More than 40 people were poisoned in the Vakhdat prison

In the new prison in the city of Vahdat, about 40 inmates have been poisoned and are on the brink of death.

Photo: Internet

According to sources from AZDA TV in the correctional colony YS 3/1 of the Main Department for the Execution of Sentences of the Ministry of Justice of Tajikistan (GUIUN MJ RT), which was recently built near the Dushanbe-Vahdat highway, about 40 inmates have been poisoned in the past week. Currently, the sick are hospitalized in the medical unit of the colony, in the corridors, and some are in their cells.

According to AZDA TV, the source of the poisoning of the inmates was an underground reservoir of the colony, where the drinking water became contaminated due to improper storage conditions.

The transfer of inmates to the new colony began three months ago. However, two months ago, AZDA TV reported in a detailed investigation that the drinking water provided to inmates in the prison is hazardous to their health due to improper storage conditions.

After the media reported on the poor condition of the inmates in this correctional colony, on October 13, the Human Rights Commissioner in Tajikistan, Umed Bobozoda, visited the colony and stated:

“Overall, during the conversation, the inmates expressed gratitude for the conditions of detention, clothing, food, and the attitude of the colony staff.”

Based on the information received, the poisoned inmates initially lost their appetite, and each time after eating, they immediately experienced nausea and vomiting. Currently, there is an unpleasant smell of vomit in the medical unit of the colony and its surroundings, and the cleaners do not timely clean the rooms and corridors of the medical unit.

AZDA TV was unable to identify the names of the poisoned inmates. It was also not possible to determine if anyone among the poisoned has died as a result of using contaminated water in the facility over the past week, or if there were any political prisoners among them.

According to reliable information, the overwhelming majority of the poisoned are inmates from poor families or from remote towns and regions of Tajikistan, who could not afford to buy clean drinking water like others. While a 5-liter bottle of drinking water costs 7 somoni (62 cents) outside the prison, it is sold inside the prison for 10-12 somoni (about 1 dollar), which not everyone can afford.

Official authorities, particularly the Main Department for the Execution of Sentences of the Ministry of Justice, have not yet reported anything about the poisoning incident involving the inmates; however, experience shows that in such cases, authorities often refrain from publishing any information.

The new building of the correctional colony YS 3/1 was built near the Dushanbe-Vahdat highway and has been functioning for three months. The old building of the colony was located 300 meters from the residence of President Emomali Rahmon in the center of the capital. The old building was demolished, and today, on its site, the president’s daughter, Takhmina Emomali, is building a shopping center.