According to lawyer Shota Tutberidze, the health condition of the detained leader of the
@DroaParty, Elene Khoshtaria
@Helenkhosh, has deteriorated.
The lawyer stated that two weeks have already passed since they requested the penitentiary facility to develop and present a treatment plan and to organize a meeting. However, they have not received a response to this request to date.
"Elene Khoshtaria has been unlawfully detained in the correctional facility for 10 months now, where a gradual and noticeable deterioration of her health condition began 4 months ago.
During every visit, we, her lawyers, notice symptoms that could indicate an alarming condition. These include:
- Severe joint pain;
- Difficulty moving;
- Periodic restriction of joint mobility, due to which she is sometimes unable to even write and requires a cane to move around.
Elene Khoshtaria did not intend to make this information public. However, after becoming convinced that both the prison medical staff and the director of the facility failed to show proper attention, she decided to share the information about her condition with the public.
Elene has no complaints against the facility staff, specifically the nurses and officers. However, the attitude of the facility's medical personnel and director towards this issue is noteworthy — the medical examinations or procedures they have conducted over these 4 months have been sporadic, non-systemic, and ineffective.
Because she still lacks the necessary answers and a treatment plan, we consulted with Elene's treating physicians at a clinic in Turkey.
According to the evaluation of the Turkish doctors, without proper treatment and in the event of further deterioration, Elene's health could suffer irreversible damage—for example, she might no longer be able to move without a wheelchair. The assessments and recommendations sent by the Turkish doctors were handed over to the medical staff of Penitentiary Facility No. 5 approximately 2 months ago, immediately upon receipt.
Furthermore, it has been two weeks since Elene Khoshtaria's lawyer approached the penitentiary facility requesting the development and presentation of a treatment plan for the political prisoner, as well as the organization of a meeting. To this day, we have not received a response to this request, which once again demonstrates the Penitentiary Service's negligent attitude toward the health of prisoners and the obligations prescribed to them by law," states Shota Tutberidze.