European Union Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas stated that the Georgian government's current policies are not aligned with the European Union's direction. Arriving at the EU summit in Brussels, she emphasized the EU's support for the Georgian people but expressed disagreement with the Georgian government's actions. Kallas stated that the country's leadership is leading Georgia "in the wrong direction," which is hindering the process of European integration.
A criminal case of torture, rape and extortion in the regional tuberculosis hospital No. 1 of the Federal Penitentiary Service in the Saratov Region was submitted to the Saratov Regional Court from the Main Investigative Directorate of Russia for consideration. Among the injured prisoners are people from Chechnya, Dagestan, Georgia, and Azerbaijan.
Charges of organizing and participating in violent acts of a sexual nature were brought against two former heads of the prison hospital, Pavel Gatsenko and Sergei Maltsev, as well as six of their accomplices from among the convicts.
In November 2021, human rights activists released evidence of violence and torture against prisoners in the prison hospital. A torture system was established in the medical institution, where people were raped, humiliated and extorted money from them.
Amid the scandal, the head of the Saratov Federal Penitentiary Service, Alexey Fedotov, left his post.