Moskal: Militants control all prisons in Luhansk region

Militants from the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) have abducted the leadership of the State Penitentiary Service office in Luhansk region.

Luhansk regional governor Hennadiy Moskal reported this on his website on Wednesday.

"The day before yesterday, on December 1, militants from the so-called LPR armed with machineguns deprived of freedom the entire leadership of the State Penitentiary Service office in Luhansk region, including its head, first deputy head, deputy head, the chief the personnel department, and the chief of the headquarters. Their location is unknown," he said.

According to Moskal, the actual kidnapping of the leadership of the penitentiary service in Luhansk means that now the full responsibility for all prisons on the other side, including the maintenance and protection of prisoners, lies with the so-called LPR.

He said that almost all colonies keeping prisoners in Luhansk region are located on the territory controlled by militants: "In our area there is only one colony for prisoners - in the village of Chornukhyne in Popasna district. Some problems arise there due to regular shelling of Chornukhyne, but we keep prisoners in proper conditions, provided the colony with power generators (because of regular power outages there), supply food, finance the staff and so on."