Paata Salia: The law mandates a search of the prisoner before placement in the de-escalation room; Giorgi Davitadze resisted this procedure, so the state employed coercive measures, and the number of personnel present does not in itself indicate violence
"Look at the footage showing him resisting the procedure—consequently, the state used coercion. The investigation will determine whether the force used was proportionate and whether the presence of so many personnel was necessary," Minister of Justice Paata Salia told journalists regarding the case of convict Giorgi Davitadze.
As he noted, the law requires a search or inspection of the prisoner prior to their placement in the de-escalation room.
“The State, the Ministry of Justice, and the Penitentiary Service respond appropriately and immediately to every such statement; the case of prisoner Davidadze did not just begin now. An investigation was launched immediately and is currently underway. To my knowledge, it is a complex investigation involving numerous procedural actions. To understand what transpired during that episode, it is important to await the investigation's results. A situation arose in which the Penitentiary Service determined that he needed to be calmed down in the de-escalation room. There are allegations that force was used against him by multiple individuals; however, the law mandates that a prisoner undergo a check and examination prior to being placed in the de-escalation room. You have seen the footage showing him resisting this procedure; consequently, the State employed coercive measures.
As for the number of people in the room, that fact alone does not indicate that any violence was committed against him. You observed the prisoner voicing his protest and preventing Penitentiary Service staff from carrying out their duties as prescribed by law.
An investigation is underway; it will determine whether proportionate force was used, whether such a large number of personnel was necessary, or if fewer would have sufficed. The investigation will establish whether the prisoner's rights were violated in this instance. The investigation will determine all of this," stated Paata Salia.
As a reminder, Giorgi Davitadze, a convict from Rustavi Penitentiary Establishment No. 6, made a statement at the Tbilisi Court of Appeal, accusing his escorting officers of rape. He claimed the incident took place in a de-escalation room involving several individuals and asserted that "everything is visible on the surveillance cameras. The Special Penitentiary Service also responded to the matter, dismissing the claim as disinformation. The Service maintains that "no violence of any kind—let alone sexual violence—was committed against Davitadze." A few days after this statement, the Penitentiary Service released information indicating that convict Giorgi Davitadze had summoned a member of the facility's administration and, in their presence—and within view of a surveillance camera—demonstratively swallowed a small, unidentified object.
According to the agency, in light of this incident and to monitor his health status, convict Giorgi Davitadze was offered a transfer to the civilian clinic Vivamedi, a proposal he categorically refused.
