Human rights activists recommend Kyrgys government reduction of inmates amid COVID-19 pandemic

AKIPRESS.COM - The Coalition against Torture raised the issue of protection of human rights amid spread of COVID-19 in its statement issued yesterday.
The Coalition said it supports the measures of protection of public safety and health of population and at the same time closely monitors all risk factors of coronavirus infection among citizens held in custody and serving prison sentences.
Bad incarceration conditions and lack of access to relevant health care services may cause disastrous consequences for inmates and prison workers. Government agencies should ensure access to health care for inmates in full, the Coalition said.
"We recommend the Kyrgyz government, particularly, the State Penitentiary Service, to consider reduction of inmates through controllable or early release of low-risk inmates on parole," the Coalition said.
"We urge attorneys to actively initiate reconsideration of the measures of restriction for those held in custody for non-violent and minor offences that can be replaced with non-custodial measures," the Coalition said.
The Coalition against Torture is a union of 17 non-governmental organizations and independent civil society activists working to prevent and combat torture and ill-treatment in Kyrgyzstan.