Inmates continue protests in 13 Romanian prisons

The inmates’ riots, which started early this week, continued on Friday in 13 Romanian prisons. Several inmates from the prisons in Iasi, Botosani, and Focsani climbed on the detention units’ roofs, while those from other prisons have refused food, according to a statement from the National Administration of Penitentiaries (ANP), cited by local Hotnews.ro. Three of the inmates imprisoned in the Iasi Penitentiary climbed the detention unit’s roof, and 231 refused to eat. The situation is even worse at the prison in Botosani where six inmates climbed the building’s roof and 220 refused food. In Focsani, one prisoner was seen protesting on the roof. Moreover, several inmates from prisons in Oradea, Vaslui, Jilava, Tulcea, Bistrita, Aiud, Bacau, Arad, Targu Mures, and Braila went on hunger strike. Riots broke out at several prisons in Romania on Monday because inmates are unhappy with detention conditions. UN experts: Prison overcrowding still a problem in Romania Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com