Prison employee suspended after assault of imprisoned ex-president Saakashvili’s lawyer
The statement of the body also said the “rights of both the accused/convicts and the persons visiting them are fully protected” at all penitentiary institutions under its jurisdiction. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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An inspector at Rustavi No.12 prison who allegedly verbally and physically attacked Shota Tutberidze, the lawyer for the imprisoned former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili, on Wednesday has been temporarily suspended, the Special Penitentiary Service of Georgia announced earlier today.
The state body said it had launched an investigation into the incident under the charge for abuse of official authority, pledging to “thoroughly study” the case in cooperation with relevant agencies.
The statement of the body also said the “rights of both the accused/convicts and the persons visiting them are fully protected” at all penitentiary institutions under its jurisdiction.
Tutberidze said on Wednesday he had been assaulted by the prison employee while visiting the former president in the prison, claiming the inspector swore both at Saakashvili and at him.
Later on Wednesday, the opposition-minded Mtavari Arkhi channel published an audio recording of the incident, in which the alleged verbal and physical confrontation is recorded.
Saakashvili, now a citizen of Ukraine, is currently serving a sentence for abuse of power after his clandestine return to Georgia in 2021. He had been found guilty of abuse of power in two cases in absentia in 2018 and faces additional charges including illegal seizure of property, embezzlement, illegal rally dispersal, and illegal border crossing.