Shevardnadze Slams Reforms in Prison Service

President Shevardnadze said today that transfer of the penitentiary system from the Interior Ministry to the Justice Ministry?s subordination ?was a mistake.?

?The Justice Ministry could not deal with the prison service. That is why jailbreaks have increased in the country recently,? President Shevardnadze said in Monday radiobroadcast on September 15.

He said that the possible return of the penitentiary system under the Interior Ministry?s subordination is also discussed. ?But this is connected with the financial problems,? Shevardnadze said.

129 convicts, described by the authorities as ?dangerous,? escaped late on September 10 from the Rustavi top security prison near Tbilisi, killing one prison guard; another was badly injured. More than 70 jailbreakers are recaptured so far.

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