The statement of the Penitentiary Service is most likely aimed at discrediting the prisoner and directing the case in the wrong direction - Aleksandre Elisashvili once again explained during the trial that he had been a victim of inhumane treatment after his arrest - this is how the lawyers of Aleko Elisashvili, the leader of the Citizens party, who is arrested on charges of attempting to commit a terrorist act, echo the statement of the Georgian Penitentiary Service, according to which the statements made by Aleko Elisashvili during the trial are aimed at discrediting the activities of the Penitentiary Service.

According to the lawyers, Archil Chopikashvili and Giorgi Rekhviashvili, the improper and illegal treatment, dissemination of inadequate and inaccurate information further deepens the feeling that Aleko Elisashvili is a victim of political persecution, therefore they call on the Penitentiary Service to refrain from spreading unverified and inadequate information about the prisoner, who is prohibited from contact with the outside world.

“The Special Penitentiary Service has disseminated incorrect interpretations of statements made by opposition leader Aleksandre Elisashvili during the trial and information inconsistent with the defendant’s statements. The Penitentiary Service’s statement is most likely aimed at discrediting the prisoner and taking the case in the wrong direction. As the defendant told the court, he had been the object of torture, violence and ill-treatment by law enforcement officers in the past too, and the perpetrators have not been punished to this day.

Alexandre Elisashvili explained once again at the trial that after his arrest he was a victim of inhumane treatment, when for several hours he was deliberately, excessively tightly and painfully handcuffed behind his back, from which blood was flowing, while the policeman watched that with pleasure. As a result, he developed wounds on his hands, the traces of which are still visible to this day. The prosecutor did not speak about the violations committed by the policeman, the ongoing investigation or the results achieved. So far, no one has been held accountable.

It is noteworthy that the statement of the Special Penitentiary Service was made public immediately after the end of the process, it does not concern the main issues but rather that Elisashvili is lying and in fact has personal hygiene items. It seems that the Penitentiary Service did not listen carefully to Aleko Elisashvili’s statement that he has items at this stage, although they did not provide him with basic necessities for a month after his arrest.

Despite the request submitted by the defense, no reasoned decision has been issued so far on the basis of which the accused is being housed in the 6th (high-risk) institution and not, for example, in the 8th or 12th institution (semi-open and closed type of detention facility) where most of the accused politicians are currently held. The Penitentiary Service has not made any justification, the court refused and did not satisfy the request to transfer the accused to another, less strict regime institution (e.g., Institution 12).

By the prosecutor's decree, the prisoner is prohibited from telephone communication.

The improper, illegal treatment of the accused prisoner, an opposition politician, and the dissemination of inadequate and inaccurate information further deepen the feeling that he is a victim of political persecution. The relevant persons are aware that the protection of constitutional and conventional human rights is one of the fundamental principles of a democratic state.

The defense side requests that the Special Penitentiary Service and relevant competent officials refrain from disseminating unverified and inadequate information in the future regarding the prisoner, who is in a penitentiary of the strictest regime without contact with the outside world and without a substantiated and written decision”, reads the statement.

For information, according to the information released by the Georgian Penitentiary Service, the statement made by Aleko Elisashvili during the trial that he is not provided with the necessary items for personal hygiene is a lie.

“The Special Penitentiary Service clarifies that Aleko Elisashvili is placed in Penitentiary Institution No. 6 in full compliance with the requirements of the legislation and freely enjoys all the rights granted to him”, reads the statement released by the Penitentiary Service.