03 April 2010, 15:00
AI: Georgia bought torture appliances in Germany
The Amnesty International (AI) asserts that Georgia had purchased in Germany tools for torturing people. The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of Georgia denies the accusations.
The AI's report entitled "From Words to Acts", prepared together with the "Omega Research Foundation", affirms that in 2006-2009 Czechia and Germany issued licenses for sale of electroshock devices, chemical sprays and high-voltage torture equipments to six countries - Bulgaria, Romania, Mexico, USA, Mongolia and Georgia.
The Georgia's MIA made a special statement officially denying any purchase of torture appliances. "The MIA never bought anything of this sort in Germany. The Ministry's balance has only German-made cars," states the Ministry.
The MIA is ready to cooperate with the AI and provide any required information to eliminate discrepancies, the "News-Georgia" reports.
In its turn, the Republican Party of Georgia demands that the authorities present all the information to the public on purchases of any torture equipment. The Party sent official inquiries on the facts mentioned in the AI's report to the MIA and Ministry of Justice; however, no answers received so far, the "Gazeta.Ru" reports.
