Georgia’s penitentiary service denies prisoner’s allegation of sexual abuse

Georgia’s Special Penitentiary Service has denied allegations by prisoner Giorgi Davitidze that he was sexually abused by staff at Rustavi’s No. 6 Penitentiary Facility.

Davitidze made the allegation during a hearing at the Court of Appeals, claiming that guards sexually assaulted him after he was taken to a de-escalation room.

The Penitentiary Service described the allegation as “completely false” and said it was part of an attempt by Davitidze’s family to discredit the penitentiary system.

The agency said it was prepared to release relevant video footage, in accordance with the law, allowing the public to see recordings of Davitidze’s placement in and time spent in the de-escalation room.

The service said footage from the incident had previously been reviewed by investigators and a representative of the Public Defender’s Office, and that no indication of a criminal offence had been identified. It said there had been “no violence of any kind” against Davitidze.