Georgia’s President Mikheil Saakashvili deployed police to the country’s prisons after videos showing purported beatings and rapes of convicts surfaced, triggering a wave of protests.
“Patrol police must immediately enter all prisons,” he said, according to AFP. He added, “There must be zero tolerance towards rights abuses.”
Relatives of inmates attempted to breach the prison where the beatings and other abuses took place, the BBC reported.
Meanwhile, the entire country’s prison staff has been suspended in light of the videos.
The ruling party accused members of the opposition of staging the video ahead of elections that are soon to take place. The video was broadcast on television Tuesday, sparking protests in the capital of Tbilisi and in other cities.
The protesters demanded the resignation of the Georgian prisons minister, the broadcaster reported.
“What happened in penitentiary number 8 is horrific and I have submitted my resignation to the prime minister,” prisons minister Khatuna Kalmakhelidze said, according to AFP.
A statement from the Georgian government said 15 alleged perpetrators have been arrested.
“It should be noted that these were premeditated crimes and there is evidence that those who arranged, conducted and recorded these abuses were paid to do so,” the statement reads.
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