Georgia's Public Defender visits opposition leaders in penitentiary facility

Georgia’s Public Defender, Levan Ioseliani, visited Penitentiary Facility No. 12 to assess detention conditions and meet with several imprisoned opposition leaders and former officials. According to the Public Defender’s Office, Ioseliani inspected the prison’s infrastructure, including outdoor spaces, the medical wing, de-escalation rooms, and solitary confinement cells. He held discussions with the facility’s administration regarding rehabilitation programs and reviewed the availability of psychosocial and educational services, as well as inmates' participation in them.

During the visit, Ioseliani also spoke directly with detainees Nika Gvaramia, Zurab “Girchi” Japaridze, Mamuka Khazaradze, Badri Japaridze, Irakli Okruashvili, Giorgi Vashadze, Givi Targamadze, Nika Melia, and Romeo Mikautadze, observing their living conditions and listening to their concerns.

The Public Defender’s Office emphasized that regular monitoring of penitentiary institutions and oversight of prisoners’ rights is a core function of their mandate, and such visits are conducted systematically.