According to GYLA, Georgia currently has one of the highest per capita prison populations in Europe. According to a report published by the Council of Europe in 2026, as of January 2025 there were approximately 232 prisoners per 100,000 inhabitants in Georgia. Among the Council of Europe member states, only Turkey, Azerbaijan and Moldova had higher rates than Georgia, reports interpressnews.ge.
“The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture is preparing a technical guide on reducing the prison population and preventing prison overcrowding, and is gathering information for its development, including from civil society organisations.
To assist with the preparation of these guidelines, the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association submitted a document to the Special Rapporteur on 28 September 2026, which examines issues relating to the high prison population in Georgia.
The document analyses statistics on the prison population, noting that the rate of incarceration in Georgia is particularly high by European standards, as well as the rise in the number of prisoners and local overcrowding in certain prisons.
It also examines issues relating to conditional early release and the substitution of the remaining sentence, including the decline in the use of these measures and inconsistencies in decision-making. The document also addresses the widespread use of pre-trial detention, the insufficient use of alternatives to imprisonment, and issues relating to a punishment-oriented criminal justice policy.
Furthermore, the document highlights the need to strengthen mechanisms for prevention, rehabilitation and social support, whilst the growth in the prison population is examined within the broader context of the deteriorating human rights situation. Based on these issues, the document sets out a number of recommendations,” reads the GYLA statement.
Who helps prisoners in Moldova
In Moldova, the following organisations are involved in protecting prisoners’ rights:
– the People’s Advocate (Ombudsman of the Republic of Moldova): Monitors compliance with human rights in places of detention.
– Specialised NGOs and networks: Organisations such as the European Prison Litigation Network, as well as the Centre for Legal Assistance to Prisoners, receive complaints from prisoners themselves or their relatives.
According to a Council of Europe report published in May 2026, there are 5,844 prisoners in the Republic of Moldova’s prison system. This equates to 245 prisoners per 100,000 inhabitants (ranking third in Europe after Turkey and Azerbaijan).
This story was translated with the assistance of artificial intelligence.The translation was also reviewed by the Logos Press editorial team.
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