FSPE Department for Chechnya denies inmates' hunger strike in Chernokozovo

The Chechnya's Department of the Federal Service for Punishment Enforcement (FSPE) has refuted the information that inmates of the Corrective Colony in Chernokozovo are on hunger strike.

"The Colony works in the regular way," General Ali Iriskhanov, head of the FSPE Department said to the "Interfax" today.

According to his story, on April 23 a fight burst out among seven (according to the "Echo Moskvy" Radio, among six) convicts. "The conflict occurred while watching TV. Some wanted one program, some - another one. After beating each other, the fighters were taken to hospital for examination. One of them is still there," General Iriskhanov said.

He has noted that the fight initiators were placed into the dungeon for five-ten days that "the incident could not restart."

"In the morning, some of the convicts had stated that they would go on hunger strike and refuse to take food until the punishment to those in dungeon was lifted, but during the lunchtime they all went out to line up and then had their lunch. They are not political prisoners, most of them were convicted for drug dealing, and demarches like a hunger strike are out of question," Mr Iriskhanov has added.

"Currently, the Colony experiences no problems, the organizers of the fight apologized to each other and shook hands, no continuation is ever expected," the Colony commander has emphasized.