 Kyrgyz prisoners sow lips in hunger strike January 24, 2012 - 19:30 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - More than 400 prisoners in former Soviet Kyrgyzstan have sown their lips together in protest at conditions in the Central Asian state’s jails. As The Telegraph reported quoting RFE/RL, the prisoners resorted to sewing up each others’ mouths after staff tried to break a week-long hunger strike by force feeding them. Prisoners across Kyrgyzstan’s jails had been on a hunger strike since Jan 17 after the security forces fought inmates at a detention centre in Bishkek, the capital. Reports said that one prisoner was killed and dozens injured in the fighting. Hunger strikes are relatively common in Kyrgyzstan’s prisons but Sheishenbek Baizakov, the Kyrgyz State Corrections Chief Service, told a press conference in Bishkek that the prisoners’ demands would not be met. “This will never happen,” the AFP news agency quoted him as saying. “Let them sew their mouths shut.” Kyrgyzstan gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Like the other former Soviet states in Central Asia, conditions in its prisons are notoriously poor.   Top stories Across a swathe of southern Turkey, people sought temporary shelter and food in freezing winter weather. The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. The Prosecutor’s Office has released surveillance footage and said that one of the detainees in the case, Iveri Melashvili. Destinations welcomed 900m fewer international tourists in January–October when compared with the same period of 2019.   Partner news |  Latest news Team launches Speak Up platform to promote transparent practices  Team Telecom Armenia has launched the Speak Up platform, the company says in a statement.Ucom offers a new uDrift 3500 mobile internet tariff In order to join and activate the tariff plan, one should visit one of the Ucom sales and service centers.Armenia moves to ban foreign currency home loans The National Assembly has approved amendments to the law, which were submitted by lawmaker Gevorg Papoyan from the ruling Civil Contract party.Armenian serviceman who went missing in fog has been found The serviceman who went missing in the border areas of the southern province of Syunik has been found, the Defense Ministry said on March 2. |
