Turkey asks to release citizens from Georgian prisons

The Turkish Assistance Association and Victims Solidarity calls on the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to take measures to release the country’s citizens from Georgian prisons, the Georgian newspaper "Free Speech" reported.

"Some 90 percent of Turks detained in Georgia were convicted illegally. Most are accused of corruption and are detained in deplorable conditions", the Association Chairman Nuri Kaputoglu said at a press conference in Trabzon.

He cited Serdal Goks and his cousin as examples of people serving time in Georgia on charges of bribery. "After serving in the army my son began working as an engineer in Georgia.

He was arrested on charges of bribery. Witnesses were bought in court, he was fined $2-3 million, and the company’s property was confiscated. He was sentenced to five years, his cousin to 12 years. And all this because they did not plead guilty", Serdalo Goks’s father said at a press conference. According to the Association, 31 Turkish citizens are presently serving terms in Georgian prisons. Some 17 people were released in May on agreement between the two countries. In May, the Turkish Prime Minister promised other prisoners' relatives to help in their release.

The Association, in addition to Erdogan, also asked the Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili to take a positive decision on this issue.


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