Inmate Dies in Prison Fire

An inmate died as a result of fire in one of the buildings of high-security prison No. 7 in Ksani outside Tbilisi on March 6.

Khatuna Kalmakhelidze, minister for penitentiary system and probation, said on March 7 that fire was probably caused by sparks from a shortcut of the electric circuit.

The tragic incident occurred just weeks before the planned closure of the prison No. 7. According to the ministry for penitentiary system and probation, inmates will be moved to a newly built prison next month.

Public Defender’s Office said on March 7, that it had been warning the ministry to take measures to improve situation, including related with safety, in the prison No. 7.

"It is unfortunate, that despite multiple recommendations by the Public Defender, problems in the Ksani prison remained unresolved, which caused a human death," the Public Defender’s Office said.

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