Two Jailbreakers Detained

(Tbilisi, July 2, 2003, Civil Georgia) – The law enforcers detained two jailbreakers out of 12 this morning, which could escape from Rustavi prison late on July 1, wounding one guard of the prison.

The law enforcers search for other 10 jailbreakers, which are armed.

This was the second jailbreak in Georgia during one week. 8 inmates of Avchala prison in Tbilisi disarmed the guard and escaped on June 27.

Justice Minister Roland Giligashvili told the reporters today that he does not rule out that the increased jailbreaks might aim at discrediting the Justice Ministry.

On June 30 President Shevardnadze blamed hasty reforms for increased jailbreaks. ?The penitential system has separated from the Interior Ministry hastily. Although in several countries this structure returned back, but in our case this is already late,? the President said.

The reform was carried out in 2000-2001 by Mikheil Saakashvili, which was Justice Minister by that time. He is the leader of the leading opposition party National Movement at the moment.

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