Hunger strike detainees gaining weight

Two men incarcerated in Prokuplje's District Prison, who have been on a hunger strike for eight days now, were placed in isolation today. This came after it was determined that they had in the meantime gained weight. Hunger strike detainees gaining weight The pair were identified as Darko I. (26) and Nikola R. (29), detained on drug trafficking charges, and awaiting trial. Investigative judge of the Higher Court in Prokuplje Malisa Stojanovic said that the prison informed him on Tuesday morning that a regular physical exam of the striking detainees showed that they had gained weight. Therefore, the prison requested permission to place them in isolation. The judge said the hunger strike appears to have been a "farce", as the strikers were secretly eating food given to them by their cellmates. He stressed, however, that the two were "still not giving up on their hunger strike", and that they would be under constant medical supervision - and isolated from other prisoners from now on. Stojanovic also commented on the case by saying that "putting such pressure on courts was unacceptable", and that there was no need for the protest, since hearings were scheduled within a legal deadline for August. The pair were among nine residents of Prokuplje arrested late last year in MUP's Operation Morava, a series of country-wide raids conducted against drug dealers. The detainees and their families, who gathered in front of the prison yesterday and announced that "human rights NGOs" would join them, say that court proceedings against them have been unduly delayed.

Hunger strike detainees gaining weight

The pair were identified as Darko I. (26) and Nikola R. (29), detained on drug trafficking charges, and awaiting trial.

Investigative judge of the Higher Court in Prokuplje Mališa Stojanović said that the prison informed him on Tuesday morning that a regular physical exam of the striking detainees showed that they had gained weight.

Therefore, the prison requested permission to place them in isolation.

The judge said the hunger strike appears to have been a "farce", as the strikers were secretly eating food given to them by their cellmates.

He stressed, however, that the two were "still not giving up on their hunger strike", and that they would be under constant medical supervision - and isolated from other prisoners from now on.

Stojanović also commented on the case by saying that "putting such pressure on courts was unacceptable", and that there was no need for the protest, since hearings were scheduled within a legal deadline for August.

The pair were among nine residents of Prokuplje arrested late last year in MUP's Operation Morava, a series of country-wide raids conducted against drug dealers.

The detainees and their families, who gathered in front of the prison yesterday and announced that "human rights NGOs" would join them, say that court proceedings against them have been unduly delayed.