According to a statement by the Special Penitentiary Service, former Prime Minister, convicted Irakli Gharibashvili, did not have a visit scheduled and, accordingly, it could not have been cancelled.

Furthermore, according to the explanation of the Penitentiary Service, in accordance with the regulations of a closed-type institution, convicted Gharibashvili has the right to use two long-term visits per year and one short-term visit per month, and these limits have been fully used by him.

“The Special Penitentiary Service responds to the statement of the Public Defender of Georgia, Levan Ioseliani, which he made after meeting with convicted Irakli Gharibashvili, to the effect that the convict allegedly had a visit scheduled as an incentive, which was cancelled due to ongoing infrastructural works in the penitentiary institution. We categorically and firmly declare that no visit of any kind had been scheduled and, accordingly, it could not have been cancelled.

Here we once again explain that, in accordance with the regulations of a closed-type institution (in which convicted Gharibashvili is placed), convicted Gharibashvili has the right to use two long-term visits per year and one short-term visit per month, and these limits have been fully used by him.

As for the scheduling of an additional visit for a person deprived of liberty in the form of an incentive, this is done by order of the director of the penitentiary institution, which did not take place in the case of convicted Gharibashvili. Therefore, the infrastructural works, which are periodically carried out in all penitentiary institutions, have nothing to do with it. No visit was scheduled and none was cancelled,” the statement says.