Family of prisoner accusing staff of sexual abuse stages protest

The family of imprisoned Giorgi Davitaze has staged a protest outside Georgia’s Special Penitentiary Service, accusing prison staff of sexually abusing him and demanding that those responsible be punished.

Davitaze’s mother, Irma Davitaze, called for the resignation of officials she accused of being responsible, including Special Penitentiary Service Director General Giorgi Pataridze and Shota Trapaidze, director of the Rustavi high-risk prison.

“How difficult is it to question 10 or 12 people?” she said.

Davitaze has alleged that he was sexually assaulted in a prison isolation cell in an act of retaliation, humiliation and degradation.

According to the family, on 4 October Davitaze swallowed a small unidentified object in protest in front of a staff member at Prison No. 6. He later refused to be taken to a clinic.

The family said the alleged abuse is not an isolated case and has called for those responsible to be held accountable.