14 January 2008, 12:51
Batiashvili: problem of political prisoners in Georgia is still acute
Irakliy Batiashvili, one of the prominent leaders of the opposition and the leader of the Movement "Go Ahead, Georgia!", who had been sentenced for support of Emzar Kvitsiani, authorized representative of President of Georgia in Kodor Gorge (during Shevardnadze times), and recently released from custody, believes that the problem of political prisoners is still acute in the country.
"For thirteen months I was kept in absolute isolation. Not everyone can withstand such conditions. My faith helped me. In spite of all my tortures, I haven't got shirty. But after all that happened I'll never cooperate with the today's authorities," Mr Batiashvili, leader of the "Go Ahead, Georgia!", has proclaimed on air of the "Imedi" Radio Station, as quoted by the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.
Irakliy Batiashvili thinks that the current critical situation in the country has influenced his liberation.
"I'm thankful to all those people - NGO representatives, politicians, the Patriarch, who raised the issue of political prisoners, my issue and struggled against injustice."
"Now I have firsthand knowledge of all the peculiarities of our penitentiary system. It's absolutely abnormal. When the country has so many inmates - about 23,000 per 4 million of population, it means that the country is ruled by authoritative system and has turned into a concentration camp. <...>
Apart from me, there are other political prisoners. Isn't Okruashvili prosecuted on political motives? Or Patarkatsishvili? Nora Kvitsiani is still in prison, and she was arrested only because she is Emzar Kvitsiani's sister."
Author: Edita Badasian, CK correspondent
