Ombudswoman visits Ninotsminda boarding school for first time since 2018 following accusations of abuse

Ombudswoman Nino Lomjaria has visited the Patriarchate’s Ninotsminda boarding school for the first time since 2018 earlier today, following accusations of physical and sexual abuse at the facility.

Lomjaria came to the boarding school with new head of the facility Archbishop Iakob, who recently replaced Archbishop Spiridon in the role. 

Archbishop Spirodon closed the facility to Public Defender’s monitors, stating that the Ombudswoman and her employees were engaged in ‘anti-Christian activities and supported the LGBT community.’ 

While in Ninotsminda Lomjaria said that currently there are 15 children in the boarding school, while more than 20 have already left the facility according to a court’s decision. 

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The children either returned to their families or were sent to family-type care facilities. 

Lomajaria stated that ‘I believe that in the facility children are unable to express their will freely and it is important for the remaining 15 children to also be sent to alternative care.’ 

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Lomjaria says that remaining 15 children should also leave the boarding school. Photo: Public Defender's press office. 

She has already met with a social worker who worked in the boarding school and is scheduled to meet the administration and boarding school personnel during the day. 

Lomjaria made several statements earlier this summer that the boarding school administration did not allow her employees to enter the facility. 

The UN also got involved and addressed the government to ensure the entry of the inspectors. 

On June 2 Lomjaria said that the country’s Prosecutor’s Office were investigating four alleged cases of violence in the facility between 2016 and 2021, including allegations of rape. 

On June 5 the court sided with NGO Partnership for Human Rights in a lawsuit, saying that certain categories of children, including children with disabilities, should be taken out of the facility. 

Shortly following the court ruling, the Patriarchate replaced Archbishop Spiridon with Iakob. 

Nearly all large boarding schools have been closed in the country in recent years and instead family-type care facilities and community-based care were introduced. 

The government promises that in the near future there will be no large boarding schools in the country where the risks of violence are high.