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'Illegal' Recording Devices Found In Georgian Prisons


The Interior Ministry says the cameras were illegally installed.
The Interior Ministry says the cameras were illegally installed.
Georgia's Interior Ministry has found what it described as illegally installed video and audio recorders in a number of prisons around the country.

Ministry spokeswoman Nino Giorgobiani told journalists on January 29 that the surveillance systems were discovered during a probe into alleged abuse of power by prison guards and wardens.

Georgian authorities were already investigating graphic videos that surfaced last year showing guards brutally beating and sexually abusing prisoners.

The videos were shown on television in September and led to mass protests and the resignations of top Interior Ministry officials.

Georgian rights defenders said the videos may have been used to blackmail inmates.

According to Giorgobiani, the illegal surveillance devices were found in prisons in Tbilisi, Batumi, Zugdidi, and Kutaisi.

Based on reporting by apsny.ge and Interfax

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