of the cells. It should be noted that in February 2016, 19 inmates were transferred from the establishment N7 to the establishment N6. With regards to the Ministry’s position, it is important to note that considering the existing infrastructure of this establishment and its original function (built as an investigative isolator), the Public Defender has difficulty to imagine how the rehabilitation of the establishment can bring it into line with the standards established for custodial institutions. Therefore, the recommendation to close the establishment N7 remains unchanged. 2.4.1.6. Establishment N8 of the Penitentiary Department The establishment N8 has 4 functioning residential blocks. The buildings have 2,4,6,8, and 10-place cells. The space per prisoner in the cells does not comply with the requirements set under paragraphs 2 and 3 of Article 15 of the Imprisonment Code.63 It should be noted that the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture, following their visit in 2012 issued the recommendation to the government to remove extra beds and ensure 4 square meters space per prisoner in multi-bed cells.64 This requirement has not been fully implemented yet. The artificial ventilation system is poorly functioning in the living cells. In some cells high humidity is observed. It should be noted that the establishment does not have the infrastructure for extended visits. The establishment has 11 waiting cells. Reasonable reception and waiting section has 4 cells, where prisoners are originally placed when they enter the establishment. The waiting cells are located partially underground, resulting in insufficient lighting and ventilation in the cells. Sanitary conditions in the cells are unsatisfactory. During our visit, specific smells and large number of cockroaches were noticeable in these cells. Inmates were not allowed to linen, and were told that that did not enjoy the right to linen. At the time of the visit of the Prevention Mechanism Monitoring Group,65 the sanitary/ hygienic conditions of the de-escalation rooms66 were unsatisfactory. In particular, floor of cell N2 was full of scattered hair and dirt piles, and in cells N1 and N3 water leaked from the toilet bowl. The rooms have only artificial ventilation system, as the windows are not opened. Prisoners, in all three of the cells, were subject to constantly burning 63 According to paragraph 2 of Article 15 of the Imprisonment Code: „the living space norm in any type of penitentiary institution shall not be less than 4 square meters per prisoner”. According to paragraph 3 of the same Article: “the living space per inmate of any temporary detention institution shall not be less than 3 square meters”. 64 Report on the visit of 13-23 November 2012 to Georgia, CPT/Inf (2013) 18, para. 33. 65 24-26 November 2015. 66 There are three such rooms in the institution. NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISM (NPM), 2015 61