Georgian security forces converged on a prison in Kutaisi on 21 December after prisoners staged a riot within the facility, Rustavi-2 television reported. The estimated 100 prisoners reportedly initiated the riot as part of a protest action directed to garner attention to the prison\'s poor living conditions. The prison lacks heat, adequate water, and suffers from constant electricity shortages, according to Civil Georgia. Deputy Justice Minister Givi Mikanadze dismissed the prisoners\' complaints, however, and argued that the Kutaisi prison \"meets international standards as well as Georgian law.\" As the riot turned into a standoff between prisoners and guards, elite units from the Interior Ministry surrounded the prison as ambulances and other emergency vehicles were in place nearby. The Georgian penal system has been plagued by serious problems, including a series of riots and prison escapes, and poor living conditions for many years. (RFE/RL)