The Social Justice Center has commented on an investigative report published by the Georgian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in March 2025. The report states that prisoners across the country have claimed for years that they were systematically provided with low-quality products, often completely unfit for consumption:
“It is particularly problematic that the state responded to these violations only after they were publicized, even though the identified issues had persisted for at least six years.
According to information published in the media, on April 3, the Special Penitentiary Service announced two new tenders totaling 201.5 million GEL. Over the next three years, these funds are intended to provide food for 14 correctional facilities. According to the publicly disclosed tender terms, 13.41 GEL per day is allocated for the nutrition of up to 11,800 defendants and convicts, which amounts to only 4.47 GEL per meal. Against the backdrop of previously identified violations, this raises doubts about the sufficiency of funds and the quality of the food provided…
These violations primarily raise serious questions regarding the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty and the respect for their dignity. Article 10 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights obligate the state to ensure conditions that do not exceed the discomfort inherently associated with the deprivation of liberty.
The supply of contaminated, spoiled, and often inedible food, as well as its insufficient quantity, indicates that the daily lives of prisoners exceed the limits of inevitable discomfort and affect fundamental aspects of their physical and psychological well-being. It is especially alarming that prisoners are often forced to provide their own food, which creates an additional burden.
Thus, we believe that the revealed facts concerning the nutrition of prisoners in the penitentiary system confirm a violation of prisoners’ rights. It is essential that the Special Penitentiary Service immediately address the identified systemic shortcomings, provide prisoners with high-quality nutrition in accordance with national legislation and international standards, and carry out proper monitoring of food provision under the new contract while keeping the public informed,” the organization’s statement reads.