Bishop Giorgi: If the allegations made by the prisoner are confirmed, the relevant individuals must be held strictly accountable - the experience of 2012 showed us how serious the consequences of ignoring or concealing violence can be!

“I would like to respond to the information circulating about alleged sexual violence against a prisoner at a penitentiary institution. The incident is extremely concerning and requires an immediate, comprehensive, and impartial investigation,” Bishop Giorgi Jamdeliani of Marneuli and Hujabi wrote on social media.

According to the Bishop, if the allegations made by the prisoner are confirmed, this would constitute a serious violation of human rights, and those responsible must be held to the strictest account.

“Every person is created in the image and likeness of God, and imprisonment does not mean that a person’s dignity and fundamental rights may be violated. In the Gospel, Christ the Savior says: ‘I was in prison, and you came to me’ (Matthew 25:36). Silence and inaction in the face of evil make society complicit! Every person, including a person deprived of liberty, has the right to be protected from violence, humiliation, and inhuman treatment.

If the allegations made by the prisoner are confirmed, this would constitute a serious violation of human rights, and those responsible must be held to the strictest account. No government, regardless of its power, has the right to trample on human dignity.

I call on the relevant authorities to immediately launch an impartial, independent, and transparent investigation!

The priority in this case must be establishing the truth and protecting the rights and dignity of the alleged victim, without any pressure, cover-up, or retaliation.

The experience of 2012 showed us how serious the consequences of ignoring or concealing violence can be!” Bishop Giorgi wrote on social media.

For context, according to a statement made by convicted prisoner Giorgi Davitaze at the Tbilisi Court of Appeals, he accused guards at Penitentiary Institution No. 6 of rape. According to him, the incident took place in the de-escalation room and involved several individuals; he claimed that “everything is visible on the cameras.”

The Special Penitentiary Service also responded to the issue, calling the allegation disinformation. According to the Penitentiary Service, “there was not only no sexual violence against Davitaze, but no violence of any kind took place.”