Inmates at Liepaja Prison Launch Hunger Strike Over Limited Outdoor Access

Dozens of inmates at the new Liepaja Prison have reportedly launched a hunger strike, protesting what they describe as insufficient opportunities for outdoor recreation. Latvian Television (LTV) received calls from inmates who claim the protest has been ongoing for nearly a week, with about ten individuals submitting official requests to participate.

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From the food, they refuse several dozen people and the hunger strike has been going on for almost a week.

The prison administration, however, disputes the number of striking inmates. According to their information, only seven requests were received on Monday, and currently, just four individuals are refusing meals. The administration also noted that these inmates have the option to purchase food within the prison or receive it from other inmates.

The primary grievance appears to be the organization of outdoor time. Inmates reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the current system, contrasting it with their experiences at Jelgava Prison. There, they claim, reaching a higher security level allowed for more freedom of movement between cells and the exercise yard, and participation in other activities. At Liepaja, prison staff escort inmates to the yard, and each section has a designated, separate time slot.

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On Monday, seven applications for a hunger strike were received, but currently, four people are refusing to accept the food offered by the prison.

Artūrs Freimanis, acting head of Liepaja Prison, explained these differences are due to the facility's infrastructure. The new prison lacks an inner courtyard, and the outdoor exercise areas are separate and limited in size. For security reasons, inmates from different sections are not mixed, necessitating individual time slots for each group. The administration also suggested that the increasing number of requests to go outside might be a tactic to disrupt the work of security personnel.

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In the new prison, there is no inner courtyard, but the exercise yards are separate and limited in size.

Another complaint involves air quality in the cells, with inmates citing poor ventilation and the inability to open windows. The prison administration stated that ventilation systems are undergoing maintenance and no defects have been found. They believe the complaints about ventilation are linked to a desire for openable windows, similar to older prisons, which could be exploited for communication between cells or smuggling.

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Ventilation systems are undergoing maintenance and no defects have been found.