Gov’t accuses former high officials of illegally managing prisons

The Ministry of Corrections and Legal Assistance has accused Saakashvili's government officials of illegally managing Georgian prisons.

The statement, released today by the Ministry of Corrections and Legal Assistance claimed the Georgian Correction System was previously managed with the help of criminal gang authorities.

"There is evidence that confirms that the former government had this kind of management style in prisons, said the Ministry of Corrections and Legal Assistance.

"In particular, the leaders of the criminal gang authorities moved from one correctional facility to another, where they spent a few days in order to meet other criminal authorities and spread their influence.

"Furthermore, they also met with dominant prisoners who had influence over others with the aim of managing the prisons from the inside, the government said.

The statement did not reveal the names of the criminal gang authorities, citing safety reasons.

In addition, the Ministry of Corrections and Legal Assistance denied comments made by United National Movement (UNM) party member Nugzar Tsiklauri, the former ruling party, who accused the Chairman of the Parliamentary Judicial Committee of supporting the criminal gang authorities and their increased influence in prisons.