ROME, 20 September 2012 – OSCE PA President Riccardo Migliori today issued the following statement regarding the news of prisoner abuse that has emerged in Georgia:

"The images of prisoner abuse in Georgia are enough to shock the conscience. I am appalled by the conduct on display in prison number 8 and I expect full prosecutions of those who carried out the abuse as well as those responsible in high positions who allowed it to happen – both to ensure justice for the victims and to demonstrate that there is no culture of impunity in Georgia.

It is horrifying to see such inhuman treatment taking place anywhere in the world, but seeing such outrageous conduct taking place in a participating State of the OSCE I find especially disturbing. Georgia should remember its obligations to uphold human rights as a member of the OSCE family, and I welcome the news that several prison officials have been arrested in relation to the abuse, as well as President Mikheil Saakashvili's assurances that those responsible will face the strictest punishment."

Last February, at the OSCE PA's Winter Meeting in Vienna, the General Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions held an in-depth discussion on prison standards and best practices in the OSCE area.