Special Penitentiary Service denies cellmates assaulted inmate Davit Peikrishvili, says he smashed window and threatened self-harm

The Special Penitentiary Service has released a statement about remand prisoner Davit Peikrishvili.

The statement reads that Peikrishvili has not been subjected to any violence by his cellmates.

“The Special Penitentiary Service is responding to a statement by Davit Peikrishvili’s lawyer alleging that, since 16 October, his client has been subjected to physical and psychological pressure by cellmates at Penitentiary Establishment No. 8, and that his health is in a dire state. We stress that these allegations are untrue, and that the accused, Davit Peikrishvili, has not been subjected to any violence by his cellmates.

We would also clarify that today Peikrishvili was brought to the lawyers’ meeting room to see his lawyer. During the meeting, he suddenly walked out of the room at a brisk pace, smashed a window pane in the corridor next to the meeting room and threatened to harm himself with a shard of glass, while also calling on other prisoners to cause disorder. The prisoners did not respond to his provocative call and even verbally abused him over his behaviour. Davit Peikrishvili demanded to see his brother, but because the Peikrishvili brothers are charged in the same criminal case, the law does not allow them to come into contact inside the facility.

We also note that, since false information about Davit Peikrishvili being physically assaulted in prison has been circulating for several days, on 19 October the Special Penitentiary Service petitioned the Prosecutor’s Office, which, in the interests of the investigation, has restricted the accused’s right to visits and phone calls. The Prosecutor’s Office granted the request, allowing the accused a one-off phone call to his mother.

It is also significant that on 19 October the accused’s mother stated unequivocally, in comments to the media, that her son had confirmed to her that he was well. The accused’s lawyer, in a conversation with the mother, also categorically denied that anyone in prison had physically assaulted Davit Peikrishvili.

The Special Penitentiary Service therefore regards the furore surrounding the Peikrishvili brothers as a continuation of attempts to discredit the agency and a deliberate campaign, and calls on everyone to refrain from spreading such false information,” the statement said.