Over 70 prisoners continue hunger strike

The Minister of Correction and Legal Assistance Sozar Subari responded to those prisoners, who went on hunger strike before several days and emphasized that the inmates attempts to pressure the government is in vein.

"We have done too much for all prisoners in Georgia and we have accomplished it in short time. I think their attempts are in vein. I want to appeal the relatives of those prisoners, force them to stop the hunger strike, it will damage their health. In addition, I want to ask those politicians and non-governmental organizations which are assuring inmates to be on hunger strike, demanding the softer criminal amendments, to rethink their purposes, and how dangerous it should be. said Sozar Subari.

Over 70 prisoners went on hunger strike in Gldani Prison #8 and Rustavi Prison #6 on November 29. Since the beginning till today they have been requesting the commission for miscarriages of Justice to be established and to change articles in criminal code of Georgia.

The prisoners want the government to make amendments in the first paragraph of the article 223 of Georgias criminal code that refers to the connection with the organized crime, so called criminal authorities bands.

In August of 2013 more than 1200 inmates of Geguty Prison, West Georgia, sent the petition to the Georgian Prime-Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili with the same demand on criminal code.

The Minister of Justice Tea Tsulukiani said that the criminal authorities institute should be extirpated in Georgia.

Article 223. Formation or Leading of or Participating in Paramilitary Units 1. Formation or leading of paramilitary unit (army, clique, regiment or any other group),- shall bear criminal liability of imprisonment extending from five to ten years in length. 2. Participation into a paramilitary unit,- shall be punishable by restriction of freedom for up to five years in length or by jail time up to six months in length or by imprisonment for the term not exceed five years. Note: the person who has voluntarily terminated his/her activities in a paramilitary unit and has handed over weapon, shall be absolved from criminal liability if his/her action bears no other signs of crime