Georgian Public Defender Sozar Subari noted on June 5 that the situation in the penitentiary system in respect of human rights is “catastrophic.” Subari also called for an immediate investigation into the May 27 incident in the South Ossetian conflict zone, involving the arrest and physical abuse of dozens of ethnic Ossetians by the Georgian policemen.

Subari was speaking at a meeting with opposition parliamentarians from the New Rights and Democratic Front factions during which he briefed the lawmakers about the human rights record for the second half of 2005.

The opposition parliamentarians hailed Subari’s report and noted after the hearing that the Public Defender has “significantly improved” his activities recently.