the purpose of the monitoring and recommendations issued by the National Preventive Mechanism of the Public Defender of Georgia during the COVID-19 pandemic is: Reducing the number of prisoners Protection of prisoners' health and provision of adequate medical services Compensate for restrictions set on contact with the outside world    The ombudsman's monitoring of closed establishments carried out during the crisis is also positively assessed in a handbook issued by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) and the Association for the Prevention of Torture.14 During the reporting period, the National Preventive Mechanism had active communication with international organizations both in Georgia and abroad. Due to the pandemic in the country and in the world in general (Coronavirus), the Public Defender and the representatives of the National Preventive Mechanism participated mainly online in various forums and meetings held under the auspices of international organizations. On April 23, 2020, a member of the National Preventive Mechanism participated in an international webinar organized by the Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT): "Places of Restriction of Liberty in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Safety Measures and Health Issues for Monitors"; The Public Defender sent letters to the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT), the Council of Europe Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) and the Special Rapporteur on Torture regarding alleged ill-treatment of prisoners in a number of penitentiary establishments;  On January 31, 2020, the Public Defender Nino Lomjaria and the Deputy Public Defender Giorgi Burjanadze met with the President of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) Mykola Gnatowski, the Executive Secretary of the same Committee Regis Brillat and the Head of the Section Boris Vodz;  On February 11-12, 2020, Deputy Public Defender of Georgia Giorgi Burjanadze held meetings in Geneva to discuss the activities and challenges of the National Preventive Mechanism with the relevant United Nations bodies;  On February 3, 2020, an online meeting was held with a representative of the Association for the Prevention of Torture. Obstacles to the enforcement of the Public Defender's mandate were discussed during the meeting;  On January 9, 2020, a meeting was held with the ICMPD Representative of the International Center for Migration Policy Development regarding the planned project of the joint operation of return flights;  On March 10, 2020, National Preventive Mechanism representatives met with Mr. Randall Burroughs (Head of the Penitentiary and Probation Systems' Support Project). During the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE / ODIHR) and the Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT), COVID-19 Pandemic Monitoring Guidelines for Detention Facilities, p. 10, available at the following address: https://www.osce.org/files/f/documents/7/5/453543.pdf [last visited 17.02.21]. 14 17