State Inspector’s Office fines Justice Ministry, Penitentiary Service for ‘illegal release’ of Saakashvili videos
The State Inspector’s Office studied how ‘proportional, adequate and legitimate’ the steps taken by the Special Penitentiary Service and the Ministry of Justice when they released the videos were. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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Georgia’s State Inspector’s Office, which studies alleged offences committed by law enforcement agencies and officers, has fined the country’s Justice Ministry and the Special Penitentiary Service 2,000 GEL for the release of videos of former president Mikheil Saakashvili in prison.
The State Inspector’s Office says that the Justice Ministry and the Special Penitentiary Service of Georgia violated the law on personal data when they released the videos showing Saakashvili eating certain food and receiving food supplements while on hunger strike, as well as his transfer from Rustavi prison to Gldani prison hospital last month.
The agency said that the ministry and the Special Penitentiary Service must ensure the videos are deleted from social media, as well as from official, governmental accounts, noting that the videos showing Saakashvili’s transfer to Gldani prison ‘insulted the dignity of the former president.’
The Investigative Department of the State Inspector's Service launched investigation into an alleged fact of inhuman treatment against the third President M. Saakashvili
— State Inspector’s Service (@DPAofGeorgia) November 9, 2021
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The Special Penitentiary Service of Georgia claimed that the release of the videos was required to prove that Saakashvili’s life and health were not at risk due to the hunger strike, and that there was high public interest in the case.
The State Inspector’s Office studied how ‘proportional, adequate and legitimate’ the steps taken by the Special Penitentiary Service and the Ministry of Justice when they released the videos were.
Saakashvili, who was arrested in Tbilisi on October 1 after eight years in political exile, was transferred to Gldani No.18 prison hospital on November 8 ‘to prevent deterioration in his health due to increased risks’ on the 39th day of his hunger strike, the Georgian Special Penitentiary Service said.
The former president called off his 50-day hunger strike on November 20 after he was transferred to Gori military hospital.