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TBILISI, DFWatch–The number of people charged with or convicted of a crime has been reduced by 59.3 percent in the third quarter of 2013, compared to the same period last year, according to the Prison Ministry.

The number of people charged or placed in jail or isolators was 9 085 in the third quarter of 2013. In 2012 it was 22 299.

The number of prisoner deaths has also been reduced. Five prisoners died in third quarter, while eight prisoners died in the same period last year.

There was not given amnesty to prisoners in third quarter of 2012. 14 were released in the same period in 2013.

The president pardoned 246 prisoners in the third quarter of 2012, compared to 244 in 2013.

539 prisoners were given early release before they had served their sentence in this period in 2013. In 2012, this number was 185.