Over 1000 prisoners continue hunger strike

Up to 1054 prisoners in Georgias ten prisons continue the hunger strike, demanding the establishing the Commission on Miscarriages of Justice and the individual study of their justices cases, according to the Ministry of Corrections and Legal Assistance.

Last month, citing financial reasons, the government had decided to delay the launch of a commission to look into alleged miscarriages of justice cases that became the reason for prisoners hunger strike.

According to proposal, the commission would be authorized to study applications filed by those who think that they were unfairly convicted in cases involving "grave or "especially grave crimes. Those convicted for "less grave crimes would also have the right to apply for review of their cases if they were sentenced to imprisonment.

Council of Europes advisory body for legal affairs, Venice Commission, said its opinion on this bill that, massive examination of possible cases of miscarriage of justice by a non-judicial body "raises issues in regards to the separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary. It recommended the Georgian authorities make it explicit in the draft that decision in cases which are reopened has to remain only with the judiciary.