Siberian prisoner cuts off his tongue

Moscow, May 8 (IANS/RIA Novosti) An inmate in Siberia's Minusinsk prison cut off part of his tongue, an official said.

"He inflicted a self wound by cutting off part of his tongue with a blade from a disposable razor," said Yekaterina Brotsman, a spokesperson for the region's penitentiary authority.

"The inmate immediately received first aid from employees of the penitentiary facility."

Mamuka Chkhapeliya, the convicted kidnapper, had injured himself back in April "to avoid complying with the prison authorities' lawful demands".

"... he repeatedly violates the prison's rules of conduct," the spokesperson said, adding Chkhapeliya had already received over 252 reprimands from prison authorities.

Sentenced to seven-and-a-half years behind bars, the kidnapper has refused to explain his actions.

--IANS/RIA Novosti

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