Minister of Justice Rati Bregadze confirms that Soso Gogashvili, the former deputy head of the State Security Service, who is in prison, met his family members.

As the minister told journalists, the meeting took place at Gogashvili's request and in compliance with the law.

According to him, Gogashvili's behavior was positive and accordingly, this meeting was used as an incentive.

"Gogashvili spoke about his meeting with family members, I confirm this. Gogashvili's meeting with his family members really took place, at his own request and in full compliance with the law. It is known that the materials of this investigation are classified and all I can say is that the meeting with the family members was held in full compliance with the law.

I also want to say that Mr. Gogashvili expressed great gratitude to the employees of the penitentiary service. His behavior was positive, and accordingly, this meeting was used as an incentive", said Bregadze.

Asked about Gogashvili’s telephone conversation with the Minister of Internal Affairs in the shower, Bregadze said:

"What should I confirm? All actions in the penitentiary institution are carried out on the basis of law, and no illegal action can be carried out there. I confirm to you only that there was a meeting between him and his family members. Any person can say a thousand things. In general, all prisoners enjoy the right to enter the shower, including Gogashvili, and maybe he also used this right and entered the shower. I don't know what he said, but this information is personal information, and I cannot talk about the personal information of convicts.

We are driven by humanitarian goals. We are focused on protecting human rights. Gogashvili’s safety is fully protected and the meeting that took place served this very purpose," said Bregadze.