The Special Penitentiary Service has issued a statement regarding the prisoner Nodar Tatunashvili, who was transferred to the Vivamedi Clinic.

As the Penitentiary Service explains, despite repeated offers, Nodar Tatunashvili refused to receive food and full-fledged treatment, which made it impossible to provide him with adequate medical services based on his health condition.

The Penitentiary Service also notes that Nodar Tatunashvili is currently under the constant supervision of highly qualified medical personnel.

“The Special Penitentiary Service would like to respond to the information spread regarding convict Nodar Tatunashvili. The convict was identified as being at high risk of danger and was serving his sentence in the Penitentiary Institution No. 3 of the Special Penitentiary Service. Tatunashvili began a hunger strike on April 1, 2026, refusing to eat and taking only liquids. In accordance with the legislation of Georgia, if the patient is conscious, he determines the issue of both eating and appropriate treatment. The convict refused to conduct laboratory or instrumental studies or control vital parameters. In addition, in April he was offered to be transferred to the medical institution for accused and convicted persons No. 18, which he refused. The Special The penitentiary service repeatedly offered to transfer him to a civil sector clinic for treatment, which he initially refused. Finally, on May 13, 2026, the convict was persuaded and he agreed to be transferred to the clinic. On May 14, 2026, convict Nodar Tatunashvili was transferred from Penitentiary Institution No. 3 of the Special Penitentiary Service to the civil sector clinic Vivamedi for the purpose of managing the consequences of the hunger strike and receiving appropriate medical services for inpatient supervision. The convict was moving independently and was physically weakened from hunger strike. Despite repeated offers, Nodar Tatunashvili refused to receive food and full-fledged treatment, which, accordingly, made it impossible to provide him with adequate medical services based on his health condition. The Special Penitentiary Service expresses its hope that the life and health of convict Nodar Tatunashvili will not be affected; he is under the constant supervision of highly qualified medical personnel,” the Penitentiary Service statement said.

For information, relatives of convict Nodar Tatunashvili say that Tatunashvili fell into a coma about a week after being admitted to the Vivamedi clinic and has been unconscious until now. According to family members, Tatunashvili was not properly treated at the clinic and his relatives are not being provided with information about his health condition.