Tbilisi:Â The head of the Special Investigation Service Koka Katsitadze hosted a delegation from the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) of the Council of Europe.
The other dignitaries who were present on this occasion includes the name of the Deputy Head of the Service Natia Songhulashvili. Moreover during the meeting held within the framework of the Committee’s 7th periodic visit SIS chief spoke with the members of the Committee about the mandate of the Special Investigation Service its investigative jurisdiction, the steps taken and the legislative amendments implemented to strengthen the institution.
The Head of the Service provided the delegation with detailed information on the changes implemented at the initiative of the Service in order to ensure functional independence, through which investigators of the Special Investigation Service were given the right to enter penitentiary institutions and temporary detention centres without hindrance and without prior permission.
At the same time he stressed that service was given an important role in prescribing special protection measures for witnesses and victims. An victims’ Rights Protection Department was created, whose employees provide detailed information on the rights and obligations of affected citizens, including applicants daily, provide them with psychological support, familiarize themselves with case materials, offer special protection programs and organize the process of familiarizing representatives of the Public Defender’s Office with case materials.
Koka Katsitadze emphasized the issue of institutional expansion of the Service. At the first stage to ensure geographical accessibility, effective management and investigation goals the 3rd Specialized Department was added to the Special Investigation Service as well as the Kakheti and Samegrelo Regional Departments and the construction of the Service’s headquarters is underway.
It is also worth to mention that the guarantees of human rights, social and legal protection of the agency’s employees have been significantly improved. The Head of the Special Investigation Service provided detailed information regarding the questions posed to the members of the delegation of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) of the Council of Europe, who are on an official visit to Georgia.
