Turkmen prisons closed to visitors for over two months

AKIPRESS.COM - Prison visits have been banned since March 5 in Turkmenistan because of coronavirus-related quarantine. Prisoners are experiencing major problems with foodstuffs and medicines, as state supplies are reduced across the country because of the crisis, and medicines have always been difficult to obtain in the prison camps, Turkmen.News reports.
Though families have not been able to see their relatives for more than two months, they can send them parcels but with significant restrictions. Three times a month, on the 16th, 17th and 18th of the month, colony employees make the journey to the marble arch there to collect parcels.
People complain that much of what they send does not reach the prisoners, while some foodstuffs, for example, fresh meat, chicken or fish, are no longer fit for consumption by the time they get to their recipients.
Many prisoners used to ask for money rather than foodstuffs, as it's better for them to buy food in the canteen, though at higher prices, than to try and keep their food parcels when they have no storage facilities. Under the new regulations money sent in the parcels goes missing.