Tension in N16 prison of Rustavi
31.10.12 19:12
Situation remains tense in N16 prison in Rustavi city, where the riot began yesterday. Relatives of inmates and representatives of the human rights NGOs say the prisoners informed them about reinforcement of security and punishing measures inside the facility, some inmates were beaten up and others transferred to lock-ups.
Representatives of the public monitoring group have been visiting the facility all day long today. A total of 52 monitors entered the jail today.
The independent monitors said the situation on teh territory of the jail is quiet and stable now. The brought out a list, as they said signed by about 3000 prisoners, which comprises names of 20 employees along with the newly appointed director of the prison. The prisoners urge for their dismissal.
Director of prison Levan Aburjania has not made a comment with media yet. One of the monitors who is a journalist at the same time met him today. The monitor said, Mr. Aburjania said the embarrassment in the prison was initiated and provoked by so-called criminal prison supervisors. He declined the reports about his alleged threats and pressure over the prisoners. As the monitor said, Mr. Aburjania is not going to conclude a bargain with criminals or allow any kind management of crime bosses in the prison.
The monitors said the prisoners demand arrival of Minister for Corrections and legal Assistance Sozar Subari at the facility.
Family members of the prisoner who are assemble outside the facility said they don`t quite believe the monitors` assessments, as they have frequent phone conversations with the prisoners who give them different information about the situation inside.
Minister of Corrections and Legal Assistance, Sozar Subari also made today a special statement regarding the incident today. He said there was an attempt of causing riot inside the prison, but the situation has been discharged and is currently under the control of the prison administration.
`The situation is very simple - there are inmates, so-called criminal authorities, against which the previous government claimed to have been fighting but in fact, these people had very serious power and influence. We are not going to accept this any longer. The prison is to be controlled by its administration and not by anybody else. The rights of every person will be protected, but we shall not accept that the prisons were controlled by criminals. All legal measures will be applied, but we shall never accept the attempts of substituting prison administrations,` Sozar Subari said.
He said the inmates made an alcoholic drink inside the prison and it is obvious that they were provided with raw materials necessary for this drink from outside.
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