Public Defender to comment on ex-PM Garibashvili’s canceled prison visit after meeting him and prison administration

Georgia’s Public Defender Levan Ioseliani said he will comment further on the cancellation of a prison visit involving former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili after meeting with Garibashvili and the prison administration and receiving information from both sides.

“I will provide additional comments on the information related to the cancellation of Mr. Irakli Garibashvili’s visit after I meet with him and the prison administration and hear the information,” Ioseliani said.

As for the suicide cases mentioned by Garibashvili in his recent letter, Ioseliani said they do not fall within the scope of the Public Defender’s mandate.

“As for the suicide cases mentioned by Irakli Garibashvili, you know what my mandate is, and I am entering [the penitentiary] within that mandate to hear directly about the issues he and his lawyer raised. Other issues related to his letters, which have political content, are not a matter for the Public Defender,” Ioseliani said.