The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) reports interference with the work of the organization’s lawyer in a penitentiary institution. According to GYLA, lawyer Jumber Katamadze was at Rustavi No. 6 Penitentiary Institution to meet with prisoner Giorgi Davitadze. After the meeting, he was not allowed to take out the notes he had made during the meeting, was held for several hours, and was able to leave the institution only after tearing up his own notes.

In the organization’s assessment, the incident constitutes interference with the lawyer’s professional activities and obstructs GYLA’s ability to provide legal protection to its beneficiary. GYLA calls for an investigation into the incident.

The Georgian Bar Association assessed the incident as interference with lawyers’ professional activities and called on the investigative authorities to investigate the matter. “Under the constitutional guarantee, the effective exercise of the right to defence entails ensuring free and confidential communication between a lawyer and a client, including guarantees for the protection of information and documentation obtained or created by the lawyer for the purpose of protecting the client’s interests,” the Association said in its statement.

Giorgi Davitadze is a convicted prisoner who accuses employees of Rustavi No. 6 Penitentiary Institution of sexual violence. The lawyer was at the institution specifically to visit him and provide legal assistance.