Authorities prepare for pardoned prisoners

Meanwhile, Czech authorities are preparing for the release of prisoners pardoned under the amnesty declared by President Václav Klaus which comes into effect on Wednesday. Courts are reportedly ready to work around the clock inside prisons to process the relevant cases. Each of the 24 Czech prisons is able to release dozens of prisoners a day, a deputy justice minister said. The police said they had reinforced patrols in regions where the prisons are located. For their part, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs issued directives for labour offices on how to proceed should released prisoners approach them for assistance. Labour offices were told to get sufficient funds in cash to be able to provide extraordinary financial support.