A/HRC/7/3/Add.2 page 51 growth was particularly pronounced after the long years of impunity. By 1 October 2007, 19,441 persons deprived of their liberty were registered by the penitentiary system. It should be underlined that most of the inmates are convicted for violent crimes, sometimes they are recidivists. 218. The problem of overcrowding and general conditions in some of the Georgian prisons remains a serious concern for the Government. Reforms to tackle these problems are on-going. However, objectively, it is extremely difficult to bring prison conditions in line with international standards in a limited period of time, since many of the existing problems have their roots in the far-away past and are tied to general problems the country is facing. That is why one should not turn a blind eye at the substantial progress achieved and the ongoing reforms, the results of which have started to become visible. Georgia is one of the few countries, which managed to make significant progress in that area in a limited period of time. Moreover, in order to address the above problems, the Georgian Government has taken two types of measures: reconstructing existing prisons and building new ones; and reducing custodial forms of constraint. 219. Recommendation (m) stated: Existing institutions be refurbished to meet basic minimum standards; 220. The renovation of the old institutions constitutes on of the high priorities for the Government. The following sums were allocated for capital expenditures of penitentiary system in 2003-2007: • 2003 - GEL 200,000; • 2004 - GEL 768,000; • 2005 - GEL 768,000; • 2006 - GEL 10,238,000; and • 2007 - GEL 67,086,000 (US$ 38 million). 221. In the recent period the following renovations should be mentioned: • Rustavi Prison No. 1 - the capital refurbishment of the building designed for 700 prisoners at the territory of Rustavi No. 1 is underway. • Geguti Prison No. 8 - buildings on the territory of Geguti Prison No. 8 are under capital refurbishment. It is planned that the capacity of the institution after refurbishment and reconstruction will increase from 900 to 2500 places. • Khoni Prison No. 9 (Strict and General Regime Institution) – On 18 February 2007, Khoni Prison No. 9 was reopened after renovation. The prison accommodates 600 prisoners. The medical unit of the institution was refurbished. It now employs two doctors. • Avchala Juvenile Institution - basic renovation activities have taken place in order to divide the living space in smaller cells and allow for more privacy and comfort. Ten new showers and toilets were installed. • New perimeters have been erected around Rustavi Prison No. 1 and Qsani Prison No. 7.