Georgian Public Defender releases 2016 report

Georgian Public Defender Ucha Nanuashvili has released his 2016 report on human rights protection in Georgia today.

The 843-page document discusses positive and negative trends in the country in detail regarding human rights protection and violations.

Positive trends

The Ombudsmen praised recent changes in the Inmate Code of Georgia, which allows representatives of the Ombudsman's Office to take photographs inside prisons.

He also welcomed the reduction of the overall number of prisoners but added this number is still higher than the average European rate. He believes the country’s criminal policy needs to be revised in a manner that prioritizes more liberal measures over imprisonment.

Nanuashvili also praised infrastructural projects carried out in 2016 throughout Georgian prisons but added that some critical issues still remain unsolved in the penitentiary system.

He also commended the fact that the parliament took into consideration most of the recommendations mentioned in the ombudsman’s report of 2015.

Negative trends

Ninuashvili said that the ill-treatment by police of those detained was still a problematic issue in 2016.

He also criticised the fact that most of the detainees whose cases his office had learned of had no lawyers.

He also said existing legislation could not ensure proper legal assistance by the state for victims of torture.

He also condemned cases of violation (or threat of violation) of the right to privacy and family life that took place during 2016.

The report contains recommendations, which the Ombudsmen will forward to the Parliament for further improvement of the human rights situation in the country.