Gldani prison scandal

The Gldani prison scandal was a political scandal in the country of Georgia involving the recorded abuse of inmates in the Georgian prison system. The videos detailed abuse similar to the Abu Ghraib scandal. The scandal was unique in Georgian history in that it was initially shared and discussed on social media, before the story began to appear on Georgia's largely pro-government television channels. Besides the images of stark physical abuse - which included the use of broomsticks and lit cigarettes - the videos displayed abuse perceived as having implications related to homosexuality, which is a largely taboo subject in Georgia's ultra-conservative religious culture. 
On 18 September 2012, after days of rumors on social media, Georgian national TV channels began broadcasting several video recordings of torture and rape in Gldani Prison in the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi. The highly controversial video footage resulted in orchestrated rallies in cities such as Tbilisi, Batumi, Poti, Kutaisi and Gori. Upset by images of graphic prisoner abuse, protestors demanded justice and promised to continue their protests. Later that night Khatuna Kalmakhelidze fired David Chakua, the Chairman of the Penitentiary Department. Several days later, Kalmakhelidze herself resigned.
Background and history.
Hours before the video was released, the Georgian Interior Ministry said on Tuesday afternoon that three officials of the Gldani prison were arrested for inhuman treatment of inmates. The ministry also released footage showing two prison guards beating an inmate in a cell. The Interior Ministry has claimed that the arrested prison officials abused inmates and made video records of it in exchange for money in a deal arranged by Tamaz Tamazashvili, an inmate who is serving his jail term in the same prison facility. Tamaz Tamazashvili is supported by the political party Georgian Dream, which grants him a senior position in the newly created government. They also assert that Tamaz is a political prisoner.
The video evidence of prison torture was leaked to TV channels by a former prison officer Vladimir Bedukadze, who was briefly wanted in connection with the abuse, but was eventually exempted from all criminal liability.
Videos.
Prisoners are shown being raped with broom handles and police batons.
Reactions.
Government reaction.
Saakashvili demanded a complete overhaul of the prison system and commanded Vano Merabishvili to immediately enter all prisons with patrol police. "There must be zero tolerance to any violations of human rights, because we are building a civilised and humane country, rather than discipline based on violence." - he said.
People's response.
An orchestrated protest rally gathered around the Philharmonic Hall on September 18th, where the president was expected to arrive.
On the next day, protesters reconvened again outside the Philharmonic Hall and marched on Rustaveli Avenue towards the government’s office.
Student protests.
The news was met with a strong response from Georgian students. The protests drew a large number of students who protested the condition of the prison system and the inhumane treatment of prisoners shown in the video. Student groups declared that the scandal was not an isolated case and emphasized that this was the fault of the system, which needed to change. The absence of free, impartial media sources and freedom of expression was also a cause of the protests.
Following the scandal, student protest groups largely forgot about the scandal, and the issue was rarely discussed by the subsequent government.