SEVERAL prisons in Kyrgyzstan are witnessing a hunger strike by inmates, according to a state official, due to new rules prohibiting visits from prostitutes.
“At seven prisons, prisoners have chosen to abstain from meals,” reported Joldochbek Bouzourmankoulov, spokesperson for the national prison sentencing agency. He noted that the strike is related to fresh constraints on visitation rights for inmates.
“Prisoners previously enjoyed the freedom to receive visits from family and ‘other’ individuals,” he explained. “However, under the umbrella of ‘others,’ inmates were receiving visits from prostitutes.”
Moving forward, only family members presenting identity cards that confirm their relationship with the inmates will be permitted to visit.
