Public Defender calls on Minister to ensure natural ventilation for prison

Georgian Public Defender Ucha Nanuashvili recommends the Minister of Corrections and Legal Assistance Sozar Subari to install openable windows in #7 penal institution, so that natural ventilation is ensured there.

The inmates of #7 prison informed the Public Defenders office that the administration was going to replace the windows with the ones that would not open. The windows would only be meant to light up the cells.

The installing process has already been started and the windows actually are unable to open, according to the Ombudsman representatives who went to the location and studied the case. Ucha Nanuashvili said that in the prison, there are special tubes installed for artificial ventilation.

"Under Georgian legislation and international human rights standards, prisoners should be in the condition of natural lighting and cells should be provided with fresh air supply. So, the Public Defender believes that even the perfect artificial ventilation system will not be able to replace fresh air for inmates. Moreover, #7 penal institution is a strict regime prison and its inmates are only allowed to be walking in the fresh air for an hour a day. That is why the cells should be lighted up and winnowed in a natural way, as written in the Ombudsmans office statement.