Former Interior Ministry officials arraigned for torturing

Former Interior Ministry senior official Megis Kardava faced a new charge in his absence for torturing a prisoner. Two other people, former Head of # 8 penitential institution Viktor Katcheishvili and former Head of the Legal Division of the same prison Oleg Patsatsia were also arraigned for the same case.

The statement issued on December 26 by the Georgian Chief Prosecutors office reads that Megis Kardava forced prisoner Malkhaz Arkania, who was detained in May, 2011 for a drug-related issue, to take responsibility for organizing "uncertain terrorist acts, and naming other co-organizers as well, otherwise Kardava threatened him with a sexual abuse.

"After receiving a flat refusal from Malkhaz Arkania, under Megis Kardavas directives, an employee of #8 institution, Viktor Katcheishvili, together with some other people unidentified by the investigation, took him [Arkania] to so called prison "quarantine where he was forced to watch sexual abuse towards an unidentified man, the statement reads.

According to the Prosecutors Office statement, Kardava asked Arkania to give a confession, or he would also be treated the same way. After refusing to comply, Megis kardava, Viktor Katcheishvili, Oleg Patsathsia and other unidentified people severely tortured him, according to the same statement.

"His torture had lasted for several hours. In order to finally break him emotionally, he was taken into one of the cells, where they staged an imitation of a sexual abuse of him, using other prisoners who were wearing masks. The scene had been photographed and the picture was given to Megis Kardava. Being afraid of revealing of the pictures or continuing of physical abuse, Malkhaz Arkania had to sign the confession desirable for his torturers, the statement reads.

From May 2011 to February 2012, Arkania was interrogated for the "terrorist acts case several times. He was treated inhumanly every time, according to the Prosecutors Office. As there was such a pressure on him, Arkania tried to commit suicide, the Prosecutors spokesperson said.

There is an ongoing investigation. If they are found guilty, Megis Kardava, Viktor Katcheishvili and Oleg Patsatsia will be sentenced from 9 to 15 years in prison.