Special Penitentiary Service says legal act granting an additional visit as an incentive for Gharibashvili was not issued; consequently, such a visit could neither be scheduled nor cancelled

General Director of the Special Penitentiary Service Giorgi Pataridze assessed Irakli Gharibashvili’s statement as a where the jailed ex-Prime Minister says that he had an incentive scheduled, but it was cancelled due to ognoing infrastructure works in the penitentiary facility.

As Pataridze explained, the convicted Gharibashvili has fully exhausted the limit on visits provided for by #12 Penitentiary Institution’s regulations.

He further added that the General Director of the Service did not issue a legal act granting an additional visit as an incentive for Gharibashvili. Therefore, such a visit could neither be scheduled nor cancelled.

“I would also like to clarify that the head of the institution has the full authority to issue an appropriate legal act to reward a convicted person with a visit; however, in this instance, no such act was issued, and consequently, a visit could not have been scheduled,” he said and called on everyone to refrain from releasing incorrect information.

The Public Defender of Georgia, Levan Ioseliani, visited former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili at the penitentiary facility where he is currently detained.

Speaking to journalists upon leaving the facility, Ioseliani stated that he inspected Garibashvili’s detention conditions and discussed matters concerning his healthcare, nutrition, and visitation rights.

According to the Public Defender, Garibashvili raised no grievances regarding his detention conditions or his treatment by prison administration.

However, Ioseliani noted that Garibashvili claimed an incentive long-term visit had previously been agreed upon but was subsequently cancelled.