Boarding school fined for video identifying wards’ personal information

The Georgian Patriarchate’s Ninotsminda boarding school in eastern Georgia, which was in the public spotlight between May–June 2021 for allegations of violence against its wards, has been fined 1,000 GEL (322 USD) by the State Inspector’s Office for disclosing children’s personal data.

The State Inspector’s Office says that a Facebook live video made by the former head of the Georgian Patriarchate’s boarding school Archbishop Spiridon back in June 2021 made it possible to ‘fully identify’ the minors living in the facility. 

Archbishop Spiridon made the live video during the public turmoil when the boarding school faced allegations of mistreating its wards, when he refused to allow employees of the Public Defender’s office into the facility to carry out regular monitoring activities.

In the video the archbishop asks the children whether or not they wish to leave the facility. Some of the children, who are fully identifiable, cry, say that they want to live with their parents, while others state that they want to stay in the boarding school. 

Currently 15 children remain in Ninotsminda boarding school. 

The video footage makes it possible to fully identify the children. They are openly shown to the public. Their names and surnames, as well as mobile phones of their relatives, are heard in the video,” said the State Inspector’s Office. 

In April 2021 Georgian Public Defender Nino Lomjaria said that the administration of the boarding school did not allow her employees to enter the facility and speak with the children. 

In May 2021 the UN urged Georgian state agencies to ensure the entry of the monitors into the boarding school. 

Public Defender Lomjaria noted on June 4 that the Georgian Prosecutor’s Office was investigating three cases of alleged violence and one case of alleged rape in the boarding school. 

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

Currently only 15 out of about 53 children remain in the boarding school, while others have been returned either to their parents or have been moved to other, family-time facilities or foster care. 

There are only several large boarding schools in Georgia currently. Most of such facilities have been closed over the past several years in Georgia and instead family-type facilities were opened.