Corfu Prison inmates΄ hunger strike ends

After 8 days, the 95 out of a total of 161 inmates at the correctional facility in Corfu ended their hunger strike last night. The protest was against the strict criteria for granting permits and parole decisions, as well as the lack of a permanent doctor and social worker.

The prisoners accepted written assurances from the Ministry of Civil Protection that the recruitment of necessary personnel in the prisons has been initiated.

Yesterday, the Prosecutor for Prisons visited the correctional facility to find a solution to alleviate the situation. Discussions with the striking inmates and the Prison Administration, in the presence of the Prosecutor, continued into late Wednesday afternoon. Subsequently, the inmates decided to end the hunger strike.

Reliable information indicates that the recruitment for the required positions (1 social worker, 1 general practitioner, 1 nurse, 1 administrative accountant) has been initiated by the Ministry of Civil Protection, and the process is currently at the ASEP (Supreme Council for Civil Personnel Selection) for the issuance of the relevant announcement.

The vast majority of the striking inmates are Albanian. The abstention from meals at the beginning of last week escalated into a hunger strike starting from Wednesday, December 6th.