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Justice minister dismissed claims of ombudswoman, says gov’t runs prisons not criminal bosses

Georgian Justice Minister Tea Tsulukiani has responded to the ombudswoman’s statement on prisons. Photo: Justice Ministry press office.

Agenda.ge, 11 Dec 2019 - 10:50, Tbilisi,Georgia

Georgian Justice Minister Tea Tsulukiani has dismissed the reports by Georgian Public Defender Nino Lomjaria that prisons are run by criminal bosses.

I can definitely say it is wrong that criminals run prisons. Prisons are run by the government. There are cases when one prisoner tries to oppress another and the state is doing its utmost to prevent or react to such incidents. I believe that the problem has been seen differently [by the ombudswoman],” Tsulukiani said.

In her statement dedicated to Human Rights Day yesterday Lomjaria pointed at the existence of a “criminal subculture in prisons.”

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She said that her office personnel received the information from inmates and several of the employees of prisons.

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