There should be 430 people in Muş E Type Prison however, there are almost a thousand. More than half of the prisoners are made up of political prisoners and there are 18 people in 6-person wards and 20 people in 12-person wards.

As it was previously exposed by the press, prisoners in Bitlis E Type Prison are not given their medicines.

Contrary to official statements that the necessary measures have been taken in T-Type prison in Kars, the situation is very worrying.

Families and lawyers in Kars cannot get information because they are not able to meet with prisoners for a long time.

Evaluating the situation in Kars, Bitlis and Muş prisons, Bitlis and Kars IHD (Human Rights Association) presidents expressed their worries.

The IHD Presidents said measures are inadequate and called on the government to release political prisoners.

Muş and Bitlis prisons

Talking about the situation in Muş and Bitlis prisons, IHD Bitlis branch president, lawyer Cengiz Akdemir, said that it was very difficult for both lawyers and families get any information.

"We do not want new deaths in prisons," said Akdemir, adding: "Prisons are already risky areas. We cannot go to Bitlis and Muş prisons as lawyers. We do not have complete information. We are unable to receive information because of the restriction on visits. Families cannot go to prisons because of the coronavirus emergency. Health conditions in prisons are already very poor. We worry that if the necessary precautions are not taken, the outbreak will spread in a short time and lead to negative consequences."

Kars and Erzurum prisons

Kars IHD Branch representative, lawyer Güldane Kılıç, underlined that political prisoners should be released unconditionally.

Stating that the only measures taken in Erzurum and Kars were the ban on visits, Kılıç said: "Extra measures should be taken. Disinfection and cologne are not provided. Prisoners have not been able to get cleaning products for two months. In such an environment, we think that social distance cannot be maintained, therefore we repeat our request for release."