The Special Penitentiary Service explains why Tamaz Elizbarashvili is alone in a cell at the penitentiary institution.

According to the statement they released, Tamaz Elizbarashvili, as a hunger striker, is held not in solitary confinement, but in a cell designated for hunger strikers, as provided for by the internal regulations of the penitentiary institution.

Furthermore, they state that since the accused is a former employee of a law-enforcement structure, he is held in a wing where former employees of law-enforcement agencies serve their sentences, and because at this stage no other person in this wing of Penitentiary Institution No. 8 is on hunger strike, the accused Elizbarashvili is alone in the cell designated for hunger strikers.

“The Special Penitentiary Service responds to the incorrect information disseminated by the lawyer of the accused Tamaz Elizbarashvili, as if Elizbarashvili has been transferred to a solitary confinement cell in the penitentiary institution. For the purpose of informing the public, we clarify that Tamaz Elizbarashvili, as a hunger striker, is held not in solitary confinement, but in a cell designated for hunger strikers, as provided for by the internal regulations of the penitentiary institution.

Furthermore, since the accused is a former employee of a law-enforcement structure, he is held in a wing where former employees of law-enforcement agencies serve their sentences, and because at this stage no other person among those held in this wing of Penitentiary Institution No. 8 is on hunger strike, the accused Elizbarashvili is alone in the cell designated for hunger strikers.

As for the issue of medical care, all appropriate examinations were carried out on the accused immediately upon his placement in the penitentiary institution. At present, as a hunger striker, he is under the constant supervision of medical personnel and, if necessary, appropriate care will be provided to him. In addition, he is provided with the appropriate medication for treating his chronic illness and will receive it as prescribed.

Moreover, the accused is provided in the cell with an air cooler - a so-called fan. Accordingly, the statement by his rights defender that the accused does not have the mentioned item is a lie.

As for the issue of using a television, this item, just as in the case of any other accused/convicted person, must be purchased by the accused/convicted person himself in the shop of the penitentiary institution, in accordance with the established rules.

The Special Penitentiary Service calls on all interested persons and media outlets to refrain from disseminating unverified and incorrect information and to provide the public only with clarified, objective, and verified information,” - the statement says.

For reference, the Tbilisi City Court imposed pre-trial detention as a measure of restraint on businessman Tamaz Elizbarashvili several days ago. The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia charged Tamaz Elizbarashvili with making threats. According to the investigation, on 30 August of this year, a verbal conflict occurred between Elizbarashvili and the victim in one of the restaurants in Tbilisi over a comment written on social media. According to the agency, Elizbarashvili threatened the victims with taking their lives and damaging their health, and later, with the aim of carrying out the threat, returned to the location armed and attempted to force his way into the restaurant. According to the Prosecutor’s Office, on 31 August the accused also published a video address on social media in which he continued the threats. In addition, it became known on 8 September that Tamaz Elizbarashvili had begun a hunger strike in the penitentiary institution.