According to Levan Bezhashvili, one of the leaders of the United National Movement, the use of telephones by convicts, including Rezo Kiknadze and his cellmates, has been restricted.

As Bezhashvili stated in an interview with InterpressNews, he was provided with this information by imprisoned politician Irakli Nadiradze.

According to Bezhashvili, the convicts had been able to make phone calls daily, at the designated time, however, with the new restriction, they will be able to make calls only once every 10 days.

“Yesterday, I visited political prisoner Irakli Nadiradze in Gldani prison and asked him to convey the request of Rezo Kiknadze and other prisoners of conscience. They were restricted in their telephone communication with the public, the media, their families, and their relatives. They could talk to their relatives for 15 minutes every day, and they will have this opportunity once every 10 days. They associate this restriction with their television broadcasts, communication with the media, and the public. The authorities are trying to restrict and eliminate this opportunity for them, since truthful, objective words spoken from prison, encouraging the public, are a source of danger to the authorities today, and they associate these restrictions with their activities.

This restriction was imposed on Rezo Kiknadze and other prisoners of conscience in his cell. Also, according to my unverified information, this restriction was imposed on all prisoners of conscience in the second building, however, I repeat, this is only my information and needs to be clarified. That restrictions were imposed on Rezo Kiknadze and his cellmates, I am providing you with this information based on their statements.

The public is also aware that political prisoners, Irakli Nadiradze, Levan Khabeishvili, Murtaz Zodelava and others, have limited communication with their family members, minor children, even with people who have no connection to the criminal case and do not pose a threat to the investigation, even with such family members they have limited communication,” Bezhashvili states.

According to the same information, in addition to Rezo Kiknadze, the aforementioned alleged restriction was also imposed on Irakli Kerashvili, Guri Mirtskhulava, and Tornike Goshadze.

Interpressnews contacted the lawyers of the aforementioned convicts, who do not have specific information regarding this fact. Human rights activists will be able to clarify the details on Monday.