Public Defender and Penitentiary Service express differing positions on the issue of Irakli Gharibashvili’s visit

Public Defender of Georgia Levan Ioseliani visited Irakli Gharibashvili in the penitentiary institution and discussed his prison conditions, health status, and nutrition issues. According to Ioseliani, Gharibashvili did not express any complaints regarding the treatment by the administration, although he noted that he had a complaint regarding the issue of the cancellation of the visit. According to the Public Defender, Gharibashvili stated that an incentive, long-term visit had been agreed upon with him, which was subsequently cancelled. 1TV+5

Ioseliani stated that, according to the prison administration's position, the scheduling of the visit could not be accomplished due to infrastructure work. At the same time, according to the Public Defender, the administration does not have a negative attitude toward the prisoner and expressed readiness to continue the incentive policy. 1TV+3

General Director of the Special Penitentiary Service Giorgi Pataridze called the Public Defender's statement "an outright lie." According to the agency's explanation, Irakli Gharibashvili has fully exhausted the limit of visits provided for by the institution's regulations. The Penitentiary Service asserts that no legal act regarding an incentive with an additional visit was issued; consequently, the visit was neither scheduled nor cancelled. 1TV+8