Ex-Georgian Defense Minister Akhalaya's relatives worried about his security in prison
TBILISI. March 19 (Interfax) - Relatives of former Georgian Defense Minister Bacho Akhalaya, who is being held at Tbilisi prison No. 8 in Gldani, are concerned about his security.
Several people introducing themselves as Bacho Akhalaya's relatives and friends spent the previous night in front of the prison, telling journalists that Akhalaya and other people charged under the same case have been threatened by other convicts.
Moreover, they claimed that convicts beat up a prison officer who defended Akhalaya.
Representatives from the Ministry of Corrections and the Georgian human rights ombudsman met with Akhalaya's relatives. They found out that convicts from another wing of the prison were shouting remarks threatening and insulting Akhalaya. They denied that a prison officer was beaten.
Irakly Kordzaya, a spokesman for the Corrections Ministry, said Akhalaya and the other people related to the case are protected reliably and are safe like "nowhere else in the world."
