MOSCOW. Jan 17 (Interfax) - The mortality rates at Moscow detention facilities fell by a third year-on-year in 2013, head of the Moscow city department of the Federal Penitentiary Service Anatoly Tikhomirov said.
"Thirty-four people died at Moscow detention facilities in 2013 and 44 in 2012," he said.
Twenty-one suspects were released from custody for health reasons in 2013 and 15 in 2012.
Seventy-one inmates were examined for possible serious diseases in 2013 and 63 in 2012.
"Doctors diagnosed serious diseases in 26 inmates [last year] and 21 in 2012," he said.
Tikhomirov also said that nearly 50 detention facility officers were reprimanded in connection with inmate escapes last year.
There were two prison breaks from the detention facility No. 1 and the detention facility No. 3 in 2013, he added.
"Internal inquiries were made into the prison breaks, disciplinary reprimands were applied to 49 officers and two detention facility heads lost their positions," he said.
Additional security measures were taken at the detention facilities in order to prevent escapes, he said.
"Security systems were repaired, old lamps were replaced with energy saving and efficient light emitting diodes, watchtowers were repaired and visibility was improved in detention facility No. 1. The detention facility No. 3 has started a trial run of the identification system at the assembly point and at the checkpoint," Tikhomirov said.