Minister of Execution of Sentences of Georgia Khatuna Kalmakhelidze resigns

Minister of Execution of Sentences, probation and legal aid Khatuna Kalmakhelidze submitted a statement of her resignation to Prime Minister of the country after the actions of protest against torturing convicts in the prisons of Georgia that passed off in Tbilisi and the towns of Batumi and Poti. Today the actions of protest will go on.

"The events in penal facility No 8 are extremely shocking for me, that is why I submitted a letter of resignation to Prime Minister", Khatuna Kalmakhelidze's statement runs.

She points out that while holding the office of Minister she did her best for the prisoners' rights to be protected and the system of execution of sentences to meet European standards as much as possible.

"But these efforts were evidently not enough because there were facts I greatly regret about, no matter whose fault it was. Just humanly, I am very sorry and wish to assume human and certainly political responsibility for what happened. The convicts' rights in Georgia must be protected and all possible measures must be taken for that", Khatuna Kalmakhelidze said.

President of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili promised to punish strictly all those involved in tortures in Gldan prison, his specific statement issued last night runs.

"All the organizers and performers of these crimes deserve punishment… Everyone who was involved in it will spend many years in prison", Saakashvily emphasized. He added that the police had already detained several persons and the rest would be also brought before the court and promised that the officials who allowed all these would be discharged. Saakashvily also promised that all necessary measures would be taken to protect human rights in penal system.

The actions of protest against tortures in Georgian prisons will be recommenced today by 12:00 Tbilisi time in six cities and towns: Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Batumi, Rustavi, Zugdidi and Poti. The information about the actions is spread on social networks, particularly Facebook, and mass media, "Novosti-Georgia" reports.

It should be reminded that Head of Sentence implementation department David Chakua has already been dismissed from office.