23:46, 25 July 2013

Georgia: number of hunger-striking prisoners is 37

To date, 37 inmates of two prisons in Georgia are on hunger strike, demanding a review of their cases; two of them have sewn up their mouths, according to the Ministry of Corrections, Probation and Legal Aid.

The prisoners' hunger strike began in Prison No. 17 of the city of Rustavi. By the evening on July 23, it involved over 20 inmates.

By July 25, the number of hunger-strikers in Rustavi prison reached 31. Apart from reviewing their cases, two of them, including one who had sewn up his mouth, demand medical attention.

On July 25, employees of the Office of the Ombudsman of Georgia met the hunger-strikers. Besides, the members of the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights are preparing to meet them; they are now studying their cases, the "Trend" reports.

Also on July 25, a hunger strike began in Prison No. 15, located in Eastern Georgia, in the village of Ksani. It involves six prisoners; all of them also demand to review their cases, the "News-Georgia" reports citing the Ministry of Corrections, Probation and Legal Aid.