Georgian NGOs demand normal conditions for inmates

On August 3, several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) of Georgia appealed to the Department of Punishment Executives, Probation and Legal Aid to immediately provide detention facilities with a ventilation system, creating adequate conditions for prisoners serving their terms.

According to the NGOs, the conditions in prisons became even more complicated on the background of the heat weather: the wards have no ventilation systems and, in some cases, there are problems with water supply.

According to the NGOs, during the summer period all this make the conditions in prisons "intolerable".

The NGO representatives insist that the state must "take all appropriate measures to create adequate conditions for prisoners". Referring to Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, they claim "inadmissibility of violence and inhuman treatment of prisoners" and necessity to create normal conditions for prisoners, the agency "News Georgia" reports.

"In accordance with the minimum standards of treatment of prisoners, all seats, meant for serving sentences, especially sleeping accommodations, shall meet all standards and climatic conditions, and special attention should be paid to air access, living area, heating, lighting and ventilation," the "Trend" quotes the NGOs' statement.

The statement was signed by 12 Georgian NGOs, the TV Channel "PIK" reports.