TBILISI, February 18 - RAPSI. Georgian Prosecutor General Archil Kbilashvili announced on Monday that an inquiry has launched into the deaths of over 700 prisoners in the past seven years.

"More details will be made public soon. We are investigating the deaths of over 700 prisoners between 2005 and 2012, many of whom were allegedly killed," he said at a news conference.

Earlier, the Interior Ministry said it had uncovered evidence that prisoners were treated poorly in Gldani Prison No. 8 in Tbilisi.

Investigators said a group of prison employees were carrying out acts of cruelty on prisoners and filming them as they were tortured. The Prosecutor General's Office said 10 employees of the Corrections Department have been arrested, including the prison director.

The Interior Ministry posted some of the videos on its website, noting that only a small portion had been made available to the public. The remaining footage will not be shown due to its explicit content, it said.

However, the Maestro and Ninth TV channels showed shocking videos of beatings and rapes in prison, and claim that they have all the recordings in their possession. The channels said they received the videos from former prison employee Vladimir Bedukadze. He was placed on the Interpol wanted list at the end of September 2012.

On September 18, Bedukadze was charged in absentia under the article on torture. On September 20, the Tbilisi City Court heard the case in absentia and ruled to detain Bedukadze.

He was arrested at Tbilisi International Airport, according to his lawyer Lali Aptsiauri. Mass rallies demanding that the guilty be punished took place in Tbilisi and other Georgian cities.

The Prosecutor General's Office reported that an investigation into the torturing of prisoners is underway. Some 12 department employees have been detained.
The Tbilisi City Court placed them into custody.

Another former prison employee was placed on the wanted list. Corrections and Legal Assistance Minister Khatuna Kalmakhelidze and Interior Minister Bacho Akhalaya resigned following the incident.

Public Defender Georgy Tugushi was appointed the new corrections minister and former Deputy Interior Minister Eka Zguladze became acting interior minister.
Prime Minister Vano Merabishvili has been made responsible for the penitentiary system.

In late December 2012, the Prosecutor General's Office announced that the torture videos posted by the Interior Ministry on its website were filmed upon the request of former Justice Minister Zurab Adeishvili.