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Compiled by Mzia Kupunia
Tuesday, August 24
453 prisoners living in inhuman conditions

153 prisoners are living in unbearable conditions in Zugdidi prison #4, Kviris Palitra reports. According to the Public Defender’s office, this prison is one that was recommended closure by the Ombudsman following his human rights reports. According to the Georgian Public Defender, the infrastructure of the prison is decayed to the extent that it is impossible to repair. “It is also impossible to eradicate the parasites and rats and the situation is made worse by the fact that the jail is overcrowded,” the Ombudsman said.

The prison monitoring was carried out during the hottest period of the summer. The Public Defender’s Office reported that it was “unbearably hot” in the prisons. The prisoners live in “inhuman conditions,” according to the Ombudsman.

Detainees in Zugdidi prison have not received any psychiatrist consultations since February 2010. The Ombudsman stated that the situation in the prison should be an important topic of interest for the Georgian Labour, Healthcare and Social Security Ministry.



Has Tbilisi lost the sympathy of Poland?

According to the Polish President, Bronislav Komorovsky, Georgian President, Mikheil Saakashvili should not expect as much sympathy from Poland as Tbilisi used to get from the late Polish President, Lech Kaczynski, Kviris Palitra writes. Answering a Polish journalist's question, whether Saakashvili will receive an invitation to Poland or if Komorovsky will pay an official visit to Georgia, Komorovsky answered: “I will not go abroad just because the Georgian President wants me to.”

However, the Polish President noted that officially Warsaw supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia, and that the deployment of S-300 missiles in Abkhazia is inadmissible to him. “However Georgia should also refrain from increasing the militarisation of the region,” said the Polish leader.



Ancient fresco found in Alaverdi Church

A new fresco has been discovered above the tomb of St. Nikoloz Alaverdeli in Alaverdi church during the repair works, Cultural Heritage Protection National Agency Director, Nikoloz Vacheishvili announced, according to Kviris Palitra. Vacheishvili noted that the person in the fresco might be King Davit Agmashenebeli. The National Agency Director noted however that the information needs to be verified.