According to reports, Nikoloz Katsia is not provided with food in the penitentiary institution, and the money in his personal bank account is used by other convicts, which is unacceptable. Not only is it unacceptable to refuse to provide food to the accused/convicts, but even to reduce their calorie intake in order to punish them. This may contain signs of torture/inhuman treatment, - reads a statement of the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association.
GYLA calls on the Special Investigation Service to respond to the inhuman conditions of detention of Nikoloz Katsia, to study the case in a timely manner and to investigate it effectively.
In addition, the Young Lawyers' Association calls on the Special Penitentiary Service to execute Nikoloz Katsia's detention in accordance with the rights guaranteed by the Constitution of Georgia, international treaties of Georgia and the Imprisonment Code.
“Public sources are reporting that Nikoloz Katsia is not provided with food in the penitentiary, and that other convicts are using the money in his personal bank account. This is also confirmed by the information disseminated by the Public Defender’s Office of Georgia, according to which Nikoloz Katsia, during a meeting with the Public Defender’s representatives, pointed out the facts of violation of his rights in the penitentiary.
According to local legislation and international acts, a penitentiary is obliged to ensure both proper nutrition of the accused/convicts, as well as their proper living conditions. It is unacceptable not only to refuse to provide food to the accused/convicts, but even to reduce their calorie intake for the purpose of punishment. This may contain signs of torture/inhuman treatment.
In addition, the penitentiary institution is obliged to detect, suppress and prevent crime on the territory of the penitentiary institution, as well as to transport and accommodate accused/convicted persons in such a way that they are not subjected to verbal or physical abuse by other accused/convicted persons. The penitentiary service is obliged to prevent circumstances provoking violence or other types of repression.
As is known to the public, journalist Nikoloz Katsia is one of the individuals who was arrested in parallel with the protest rallies organized in connection with the suspension of negotiations on accession to the European Union by the Georgian Dream. The Prosecutor's Office of Georgia charges him with the purchase and storage of a particularly large amount of narcotic drugs.
On January 23, 2025, a pre-trial hearing of Nikoloz Katsia was held at the Tbilisi City Court. Judge Nino Tarashvili upheld the pre-trial detention imposed on Nikoloz Katsia.
GYLA is monitoring the ongoing court hearing of the case against Nikoloz Katsia and the investigation of his criminal case.
We call on the Special Penitentiary Service to execute Nikoloz Katsia’s detention in accordance with the rights guaranteed by the Constitution of Georgia, international treaties of Georgia and the Imprisonment Code
We call on the Special Investigation Service to respond to the inhuman conditions of detention of Nikoloz Katsia, to examine the case in a timely manner and to investigate it effectively,” reads the statement.
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