Charges have been filed in connection with the beating of inmate David Peikrishvili against Giorgi Pataridze, the former head of Georgia’s Special Penitentiary Service; Ramaz Pirtskhalava, the former director of Gldani Prison; and already incarcerated criminal figures Vato Kipiani, Shota Kipiani, and Avtandil Bilanishvili (known by the alias “Katsro”). A press briefing on the matter was held at the General Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia.
The prosecutor’s office thereby corroborated the account provided by the beaten inmate, David Peikrishvili, which the Penitentiary Service had previously “categorically denied.” According to investigators, the group violence against the inmate was carried out by Vato Kipiani, Shota Kipiani, Avtandil Bilanishvili, David Kacharava, and Pavle Gotsiridze. The violence continued over the course of four days, from October 16 to October 20:
“As a result of the violence committed, David Peikrishvili sustained multiple bodily injuries, including fractures of four ribs, fractures of the transverse processes of the vertebrae, and a concussion, which fall under the category of less serious bodily injuries resulting in prolonged impairment of health.”
Earlier, David Peikrishvili himself, who was arrested on charges of extortion and hospitalized while in custody, stated during a court hearing that he had been subjected to torture in prison for four days. According to him, the primary motive “was a telephone.”
As Peikrishvili alleged, both the prison warden and the leadership of the Special Penitentiary Service were complicit. He also stated that he was taken to the Vivamedi clinic with his injuries, and upon his return to the correctional facility, an official log entry was made falsely claiming that he had fallen from a height. The abuse then resumed.
“I have forty stitches. The prosecutor had the mobile phone. Had it not been in their possession, they would have had no motive to place [people] in my cell and subject me to torture.”
Reports regarding the beating of David Peikrishvili, who was being held at Penitentiary Facility No. 8 (Gldani Prison), first emerged on October 19. On the same day, the Penitentiary Service issued a statement in which it “categorically denied” the occurrence of violence. Later, however, Minister of Justice Paata Salia confirmed that David Peikrishvili was not alone in his cell and that other inmates had been transferred in with him. The prosecutor’s office subsequently initiated a criminal investigation.
Brothers Giorgi and David Peikrishvili were arrested on September 22 on charges of group violence and extortion.