Ombudswoman: two inmates injured in Rustavi prison fire
State Inspector’s Service has started the investigation on ‘possible violation of fire safety rules or possible non-compliance or improper performance’ of the rules. Photo: Netgazeti.
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Georgian Public Defender Nino Lomjaria has stated that two inmates were injured in Rustavi Prison No.17 along with two other inmates who died due to a fire breakout yesterday.
Special Penitentiary Service of Georgia says that the fire started in the prison canteen around 14:20, noting that the two inmates who died were employed in the agricultural part of the institution.
Lomjaria has visited the prison earlier today and noted that she received the information about the death of two inmates only today ‘despite the active communication with the penitentiary service yesterday.’
"I talked to the prisoners and the prison administration. According to them, the fire broke out suddenly, there was a serious and large smoke,” Lomjaria said. Photo: IPN.
Fortunately, as the inmates say, the smoke went to the opposite side of their building. If the smoke went to the side of the building where the inmates were, it would have far more severe consequences,” Lomjaria added.
Ombudswoman Lomjaria also said that two inmates died from the smoke, noting that ‘one of the prisoners who died was trying to get out, though there were bars.’
Georgian Justice Minister Rati Bregadze stated earlier today on TV channel Rustavi 2 that they informed the families of deceased inmates ‘as soon as the fact of death was confirmed.’
We were preoccupied with the safety of each prisoner from beginning to end,” Bregadze said.
Bregadze also noted that the Ministry of Justice ‘will do its utmost to assist the investigation to find out the truth and determine the real cause of the fire.’
State Inspector’s Service has started the investigation on ‘possible violation of fire safety rules or possible non-compliance or improper performance’ of the rules.
Two inmates have died in a fire in Rustavi Prison No.17 yesterday, the Georgian Justice Ministry confirmed earlier today. The fire broke out at around 14:00 yesterday allegedly in the prison cafeteria. Six fire brigades with 11 fire engines were trying to extinguish the fire. It has not been reported so far what caused the death of the inmates - thermal burns of smoke.