As regards the position of the Ministry, taking into account the state of infrastructure of the establishment and its initial function (it was built as an investigative isolator), it is difficult for the Public Defender to imagine how the establishment can be rehabilitated so that the infrastructure corresponds to the standards for the institutions for deprivation of liberty. Consequently, the Public Defender reiterates its recommendation about closing the establishment №7. In most establishments, prisoners are not allocated standard living space of 4 square meters, as required by the Imprisonment Code of Georgia. There are problems with securing natural and artificial ventilation, sanitary-hygienic conditions and privacy in sanitary facilities. Prisoners do not have the infrastructure necessary for physical exercise in the yards in closed establishments. It is worth noting that the infrastructure for long-term visits has been arranged at the establishment №5. The situation has not changed in this regard at the penitentiary establishments №7, 8 and 9. The Public Defender gives negative assessment to the fact that except for the establishment №8, none of the penitentiary establishments allocates a special room for meetings of the Public Defender/members of the Special Preventive Group with prisoners at any time, without visual surveillance through electronic means. The Public Defender pointed out in a number of reports that conditions at penitentiary establishments should secure resocialization and reintegration of prisoners into the society. The Public Defender welcomes various measures taken at penitentiary establishments to secure resocialization of prisoners. Despite these steps, the problem of implementing rehabilitative activities at the establishments with special risk levels and at medical establishments with units for long-term care remains acute. The Public Defender highlights increase in the use of the measures of encouragement, in comparison with the previous year. However, it is also worth noting that disciplinary sanctions are also increasingly applied. Georgian legislation does not specify which disciplinary sanctions may be imposed in specific cases. Consequently, prison administration enjoys broad discretion in selecting appropriate sanctions. This increases the risk of applying disciplinary sanctions disproportionately. In 2015, the instances of solitary confinement of prisoners with mental health problems cause concern. It is also worth noting that contacts with families are not allowed at the establishment №7 in connection with the application of sanctions. Monitoring carried out in 2015 focused on the effectiveness of penitentiary healthcare and existing challenges. The Public Defender welcomes measures aimed at full re-organization of medical department, review of standards of penitentiary healthcare and increase in healthcare budget. Repairs were carried out in penitentiary establishments NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISM (NPM), 2015 17