The year 2016 marked an increase compared with previous years in the number of visits carried out by the CPT to social care homes (Azerbaijan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania and the Russian Federation). 3. In line with standard practice, the CPT announced in April its programme of periodic visits for the following year. It announced its intention to examine in the course of 2017 the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty in the following ten countries: Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Montenegro, Poland, Slovenia, Turkey and Ukraine. Ad hoc visits 4. In the course of 2016, the CPT carried out ad hoc visits to Belgium, Greece (2 visits), the Russian Federation (North Caucasian region), “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”, Turkey (2 visits), and Ukraine. In addition, it monitored a removal operation by air (return flight) from Spain to Colombia and the Dominican Republic. 5. The ad hoc visit to Belgium in May was the result of a very rapid reaction, as it had been organised during ongoing strikes by prison staff. The visit focused in particular on the conditions in prisons where virtually all prison staff were absent due to industrial action. 6. The main purpose of the two visits to Greece (in April and July) was to examine the situation of foreign nationals held in the “Reception and Identification Centres” (so-called “hotspots”) on the islands of Chios, Lesvos and Samos. In addition, the situation of foreign national children deprived of their liberty and the treatment of both foreign nationals held under aliens legislation and criminal suspects held in police custody were also examined in detail during the visits. 7. During the ad hoc visit to the Russian Federation in February, the CPT’s delegation returned to the Republics of Dagestan and Kabardino-Balkaria in order to review the implementation of recommendations made after previous visits regarding the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty by law enforcement agencies. 8. The primary objective of the ad hoc visit to “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” was to examine the conditions of detention and treatment of inmates at Idrizovo Prison, in which some two-thirds of the country’s prisoners were being held. The delegation wished to verify whether the recommendations made after its October 2014 visit to the country had been implemented. 9. The first of the CPT’s two ad hoc visits to Turkey was to the F-type High-Security Closed Prison on the island of Imralı in April. The purpose of this visit was to examine the treatment and conditions of detention of the (four) prisoners held in the establishment and to review the measures taken by the Turkish authorities in the light of the recommendations made by the CPT after its previous visit to this prison (in January 2013). The purpose of the second visit (in August/September) was to examine the treatment and conditions of detention of persons detained in connection with the military coup attempt of 15 July 2016. To this end, the delegation interviewed in private General Report of the CPT, 2016 ► Page 8