Prisoners to Get Separate Opportunity to Receive Up to 20 Liters of Drinking Water with Packages or Deliveries

The Ministry of Justice is proposing to create a separate opportunity for prisoners to receive up to 20 liters of factory-packed drinking water along with their packages and deliveries. This initiative has been introduced in the unified website for the publication of legal acts.

According to the current legal regulation, “A prisoner has the right to receive and send a package or a delivery weighing up to 20 kilograms per week, including liquids, and to receive up to 20 liters of factory-packed natural drinking water.” This regulation came into force on January 1, 2023, after which many prisoners (accused individuals) raised questions about the possibility of receiving drinking water through deliveries. Many expressed a preference for factory-packed drinking water over tap water due to health reasons.

Given the current situation, since the amount of drinking water is counted as part of the delivery weight, it creates a situation where the entire delivery may essentially be filled with drinking water, making the realization of the prisoners' rights largely formal. Thus, it is deemed necessary to specify a separate opportunity to receive drinking water in addition to the established weekly weight limit for deliveries.

Moreover, the internal regulations of correctional facilities allow prisoners to possess permitted household items, including a refrigerator, television, and bedding. These items, due to their weight, can exceed the maximum weight limit for the weekly delivery, leading to a contradictory situation where such items are permitted by law, but the opportunity to receive them is not available. Therefore, with the proposed amendment, clarity will be brought to these legal acts regarding such situations.

The draft must first receive government approval before being adopted by the National Assembly to gain legal force.