E/CN.4/2006/6/Add.3 page 14 and was subject to the current moratorium on the death penalty. She had been immobile owing to illness for the last three years and received no medical treatment; she was assisted on a day-to-day basis by one of the other inmates. Despite appeals to the authorities for her release on humanitarian grounds, including by the prison authorities themselves, no response had been received. 53. The Special Rapporteur also visited a male prisoner on death row. Once the guard unlocked the padlock to the heavy black steel door, he did not know how to open it. It finally took at least three guards approximately five minutes to slide the security bolt across and pry the door open. The prisoner was alone in a dimly lit, poorly ventilated and dank 3 x 4 m cell with a latrine and two bunk beds. He did not make any allegations of ill-treatment. Although the Deputy Minister indicated that the prisoner could leave to take physical exercise every day except Sunday and could have regular family visits, it was clear that the cell had not been opened for a very long time. 54. The Special Rapporteur noted that there were no serious allegations of ill-treatment made by the detainees, but expressed concern that the conditions of detention fell far below international standards. He noted with concern that despite the de facto moratorium on capital punishment, it was still applicable in Abkhazia, in clear violation of relevant Council of Europe standards that were applicable in Georgia. VI. SOUTH OSSETIA 55. On 25 February 2005, the Special Rapporteur visited two facilities in South Ossetia. At Tskhinvali Prison, where both pretrial detainees and convicted prisoners were held in separate wings, he noted that in general, there were no serious issues relating to the conditions of detention. The cells for both convicted and pretrial prisoners were not overcrowded, and there was sufficient bedding, lighting, heating and washing facilities. The detainees were allowed outside their cells four hours per day, although with no possibilities for educational, vocational or leisure activities, and were permitted family visits, but access to the prison was difficult. The prisoners had no access to a telephone; indeed, the prison staff alleged that they would be reprimanded for allowing prisoners to use the telephone. There were no allegations of ill-treatment by the prison staff, even of Georgian prisoners. 56. At the pretrial detention centre of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Special Rapporteur met with the chief of the facility, Mr. J. Akhmuraz. The facility had seven underground cells, which held 23 detainees on that particular day. On average there were three detainees per cell; however, one held five individuals and was overcrowded. There was no heating in the cells, nor washing facilities or toilets. Although pretrial prisoners were to be held for only up to three months, this period was often exceeded. Some cells were equipped with televisions, and the detainees reported that they had access to reading materials, telephone calls and visits twice a month. The prisoners were allowed out for four hours per day in a 4 x 5 m outdoor cage. Although there were no allegations of ill-treatment, the Special Rapporteur noted that the conditions fell far below international standards.