Amnesty International, GYLA Warn of Impunity Over Alleged Prison Torture in Georgia
By Messenger Staff
Thutsday, October 29, 2026
Amnesty International and the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association (GYLA) have warned that the failure to effectively investigate allegations of torture and other ill-treatment in Georgian prisons is contributing to a persistent climate of impunity.
In a joint statement, the organizations raised concerns over cases involving several prisoners, including Giorgi Davitadze, Giorgi and Davit Peikrishvili, and Lasha Chachanidze.
The statement cites growing reports of alleged sexual violence, beatings, threats and retaliation against prisoners who report abuse. Among the cases highlighted are the alleged sexual assault of Giorgi Davitadze at Penitentiary Establishment No. 6 in Rustavi, followed by alleged reprisals against him and other inmates; the alleged rape of a prisoner by a staff member at Penitentiary Establishment No. 1 in Laituri; and the reported beating of Davit Peikrishvili by fellow inmates at Penitentiary Establishment No. 8 in Gldani.
The organizations also questioned the handling of these cases, pointing to the Special Penitentiary Service's immediate denial of the alleged beating of Peikrishvili and the termination of the investigation into Davitadze's allegations of sexual violence on the grounds that no signs of a crime had been found.
According to Amnesty International and GYLA, these cases raise serious concerns about prisoner safety, safeguards against ill-treatment and the effectiveness and independence of investigations. They also link the issue to wider concerns over impunity for alleged torture and abuse in Georgia, including violence against detained protesters reported since 2024.
The organizations called on the authorities to ensure that all credible allegations are investigated promptly, effectively, independently and impartially, and that those reasonably suspected of responsibility are brought to justice through fair legal proceedings. They also urged a separate review of prison practices, complaint-handling procedures and existing safeguards against ill-treatment.
"The Georgian authorities must break this cycle of impunity and establish an oversight mechanism genuinely capable of effectively and independently preventing such violence," the joint statement reads. The organizations also called for genuinely independent complaint-review mechanisms and guarantees of justice and compensation for victims.
