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Regional Fund - IGA, Pazardjik won an international award!
Personally Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal presented the International Community Justice Awards!
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Regional Fund - IGA was the only non-government organization that won the prestigiousInternational
Community Justice Award 2004.
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Award for Fund – IGA,
handed from the mayor of Madison,
Mr. Jerry Gist /USA/,
for “demonstrated outstanding ability
in your chosen field of endeavor,
and have worked for the welfare
and progress of Bulgaria”
2007
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Award for Fund – IGA by Sofia municipality for
“development of an effective model for inter-agency
cooperation during the implementation of European projects
in partnership with Sofia municipality” 2007.
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CRIME
The National Justice Institute – host of working meeting on project “Juveniles and justice” The chairmen of District court – Blagoevgrad Krasimir Arshinkov and of Regional court – Plovdiv Veselin Hadjiev, the deputy-chairman of Regional court – Plovdiv Rumen Popov, judge Petia Shishkova from Sofia city court and Nikolay Gospodinov from District court – Pleven gathered in the National Justice Institute to discuss the forthcoming steps about the implementation of project “Juveniles and justice”. Along with K. Tomanov – secretary of CCPJD associate professor V. Velinov – director of Clinic for forensic psychiatry and forensic psychology and G. Mitov – teacher in the Legal faculty of SU “St. Kliment Ohridsky” the participants in the meeting discussed the specific themes in the educational seminars, which are going to be carried out during January, February and March 2007. The provision is that 75 judges have to participate in the three seminars. Very important element from the implementation of the project will be the inquiring and the receiving of feedback from the participants in thîse trainings. The Executive Director of Fund – IGA Marina Manolcheva and the Program Director Dimitar Rusinov presented the project to the participants on the meeting and introduced the plan for its implementation. The project “Juveniles and Justice - training of magistrates for effective work on cases involving juveniles” is prepared and it is been implemented from Crime Prevention Fund – IGA in partnership with the Bulgarian Judges association, the Clinic for forensic psychiatry and forensic psychology, District court – Pazardjik, District court – Blagoevgrad, District court – Pleven and Regional court – Plovdiv. The aim of the project is to increase the effectiveness of the Bulgarian courts in the enforcing of European and International standards in the justice regarding them juveniles, to increase the judge specialization, guiding court cases with juveniles and to adopt in the learning program of the National Justice Institute a specialized program for training of judges.
In the end of the project a leaflet for judges, working on cases with the juvenile participation will be published.
The project is supported and funded from Program “Judicial strengthening initiatives” of the US agency for international development.
Published by IGA, Nov 27, 14:06|
Informational days for promotion of the community service as a part from the “probation” penalty Yesterday (2nd October) in Municipality Veliko Tarnovo started the Informational days, which will popularize and promote the community service as a part from the “probation” penalty. They are implemented jointly with chosen Municipalities, the District probation services, where there are such, and Crime Prevention Fund – IGA in the frames of project “Demonstrational model of community service”, prepared from Fund – IGA and funded from the Democracy commission of US Embassy in Bulgaria.
Dr. Rumen Rashev – Major of Municipality Veliko Tarnovo opened the Informational day. Valentina Karaganova – chairwoman of “Educational activity in the prisons and probation” in General Directorate “Execution of penalties” – Ministry of Justice, Dimitar Rusinov – Program Director of Fund – IGA and Stefan Velchev from District probation service in Veliko Turnovo participated as lecturers. In the end of the forum was officialy signed three-way agreement, which regulates the implementation of the demonstrational project.
After Veliko Turnovo the informational days will continue in Vratsa on 4th of October, Pernik – 10th of October and Sofia – 11th of October. The Municipalities along with the District probation services will implement Demonstrational projects, which aiming to show to the public the results from the community service as a part of “probation” punishment – garden design, parks, public rest places or Municipality places, which have to be repaired. The implementer of the project - Fund – IGA is funding these places, the Municipalities participate with the same amount or sources, and the District probation services will ensure unhindered access, implementing the activities within the project to the places where they are implemented. The project foråsee publishing of informational materials and creating of movie for the realization of Demonstrational projects, which will be used with training aims also.
On the picture: Dr. Rumen Rashev – Major of Veliko Tarnovo Municipality, Marina Manolcheva – Executive Director of Crime Prevention Fund – IGA and Stefan Velchev from DPS are officially signing the three-way agreement.
Published by IGA, Nov 27, 14:04|
Representatives of 20 NGO from Bulgaria and Romania – are trained in Koprivshtica From 27th June to 2nd July in Koprivshtica was carried out training for representatives of the nongovernmental sector from Bulgaria and Romania, organized by Crime Prevention Fund – IGA. The training is within project “Improving Equal Treatment and Human Dignity of Members of Vulnerable Groups Sentenced for a Penal Offence” with the support FAR Networking Program of the European Commission. Partner of Fund IGA on the project is Penal Reform International. Both organizations work in cooperation whit Prison Fellowship, Romania, The Association for Probation and mediation in justice (SPJ), Czech Republic and Hungary Helsinki Committee, Hungary. In the training participation took representatives of 10 Bulgarian and 10 Romanian nongovernmental organizations. Trainers were Jiri Kopal and Mihaela Tomisova from the Czech Republic, Slavka Kukova from Bulgarian Helsinki Committee, Elena Trifonova from Institute for Research and International Studies, Diana Bolanu and Diana Ureche from Romania. Participation in the discussion took also the coordinator of the project Mihaela Sasarman. The discussed themes were: sources of discrimination, discrimination behavior, the legislation in Bulgaria and Romania, preparation, development and design of advocacy campaign. The project continues with the preparation and implementation of 6 small projects from the organizations whose representatives participated in the training.
Published by IGA, Nov 27, 14:02|
The general director of Dutch prison system – in Pazardjik within IGA`s project  Today, 25th of September, a press-conference was carried out regarding the visit of the Jan van den Brand - the genera director of Dutch prison system, head of the Dutch International Affairs and Rene van Hooren – manager, PSW - Consultations on the labour market, Netherlands. Their visit was related with the “ENTER” project, which is been implemented from PSW - Consultations on the labour market and Crime Prevention Fund – IGA and its financed by MATRA Programme of the Dutch Foreign Ministry. The aim of the visit was monitoring of the project and carrying out of one week training of trainers, which will be implemented on “Borovetz” resort from 26 - 29th of September. To take part in this event arrive the Director of General Directorate “Execution of Penalties” towards Ministry of Justice and Valentina Karaganova – Head of the department “Correctional activity in Detention places and probation” towards the same institution. Pazardjik was represented from the District governor Angel Cholakov, Georgi Shopov - Chairman of Regional court, Veselin Kotsev – Director of the prison, Marina Manolcheva – Executive Director of Crime Prevention Fund – IGA and Dimitar Rusinov – Program Director. Except the “ENTER” project, there were also presented and the perspectives for cooperation between them two countries in the prison reform area. Jan van den Brand announced the intention of Dutch Ministry of Justice for priority work with four countries and marked Bulgaria as one of them.
Published by IGA, Nov 27, 13:59|
IGA and Municipality of Sofia signed Memorandum for common activities on crime prevention Yesterday in Hall ¹5 of Sofia Municipality on a special press-conference the Mayor Boiko Borisov signed Memorandum for common activities on crime prevention with Crime Prevention Fund – IGA. According to the signed document “the sides will unify their efforts to make an effective and stable model of Municipal strategy for prevention and counteraction against crime, as well as for protection of the society and the individual citizens from criminal acts”. Sofia Municipality, Crime Prevention Fund – IGA, Central Commission for fighting whit the Anti-social Juvenile Activities and the National Justice Institute begin adàptation of ASSET – system for evaluation of the risk of re-offending by juvenile offenders, prepared by experts of Oxford University. Global Opportunity Fund (GOF) to the British Ministry of Foreign Affairs /Home Office/ funded the adaptation of this model and the experts from the Youth Justice Board of England and Wales, Bob Ashford, Maggie Blyth and Kerry Baker will teach and assist the Bulgarian specialists who will use the instrument. The aim is to help people working with young offenders to define more effective programs, which to use in the work with this group. After the yesterday presentation of the British system for re-action of the juvenile delinquency and the ASSET instrument, today the work meetings continue. On 8th and 9th June with the participation of English experts will be carried out a training of the expert group, which will adapt the instrument.
Published by IGA, Nov 16, 17:38|
Fund IGA è Penal Reform International - Romania – organized an international conference  International Conference Improving Human Rights in Prison in Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey, was held within 21st – 23rd of June in Sofia- Tsarigradsko selo complex. The conference was organized by the crime Prevention Fund- IGA and Penal Reform International - Romania.
The forum was carried out under the patronage of Prof. Georgi Petkanov- Minister of Justice of the Republic of Bulgaria and is implemented with the financial support of the European Commission- Brussels. About 60 people participated in the prestigious forum.
Main issues discussed by the participants were the Modern treatment methods in prisons ( 31st of June, 2006) Improving Living Conditions in Prisons ( 22nd of June, 2006) ; Protection of minorities in prisons (22nd of June, 2006) These issues were discussed in light of relevant European and international standards, human rights situation in the three penalty execution systems and common perspectives and challenges in front of the three countries by reference to their upcoming EU memberships. Issues were discussed from three point of views- Europe, state administration of Bulgaria, Romania and Turnkey and rights defending organizations in the three countries. Their aim was to reach a constructive dialogue and cooperation on a national and international level. Conference was ended by a discussion of plan for declaration preparation with recommendations to the government of the tree countries for improving human rights in prison system in Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey.
Published by IGA, Nov 16, 15:33|
Fund – IGA certified for successful project implementation Fund – IGA received a Certificate of Achievement for successful project implementation at a ceremony at the Information center of the Delegation of the EU Commission. Project “Civil Probation University – European standards for community sanctions and measures as an alternative to imprisonment” was implemented during this year with the financial support of Europe 2003 Program of the EU Commission. Its main goal was increasing public awareness and understanding among large groups of society about European standards and practices in implementation of community sanctions and measures as alternative to imprisonment. Within this project IGA published its most important publication – the book “Probation and Probation Services. An European Perspective”. This was the 36th project, successfully implemented by IGA during the 1999 – 2005 period. In this moment the organization is working on 9 active projects, and three more are due to start in the next few weeks.
Published by IGA, Jan 04, 13:39|
IGA starts series of regional seminars in the country On December 9th and 10th in the Hall of the Army Club in Vratza a regional seminar was staged within IGA’s project “Improving interagency collaboration in the field of juvenile delinquency”, financed by Global Opportunity Fund at the FCO of UK. This is the first of 12 regional seminars to be organised throughout the country until the end of 2006. During the two days the participant discussed topics related to the European and UN standards in this field, the Asset risk assessment tool, problems and mechanisms for work with violent children and children victims of violence, the British model of juvenile delinquency system, the analysis of the situation of juvenile delinquency in Vratza region etc. Konstantin Tomanov, Secretary of the Central Commission for Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency (CCPJD) made comprehensive analysis of the Bulgarian legislation and the international standards in this field in the context of Bulgaria’s accession to the EU. More than 30 people took part in the seminar, among them the Deputy mayor of Vratza Municipality Mr. V. Marinski, the Director of “Social Assistance Directorate”, the Chief of “Child Protection Department”, the Vratza prison Director, the Chief of the District Probation Service, representative of the District Government, the Secretary of the Local CPJD, public tutors, inspectors from the Child Pedagogic Office at the police, local NGOs. In the end of the forum the participants united on the idea to prepare and sign a consensus protocol for concrete activities on local level for prevention of juvenile delinquency.
Published by IGA, Jan 04, 13:33|
Work meeting within Project “ENTER”  Last week Pazardjik was visited by Rene van Hooren, manager in PSW Arbeidsmarktadvies – the leading organization for one of the recently approved projects of Regional Fund – IGA. Project “ENTER” is aimed at improving the (ex) offenders position on the labor market – increasing of their social participation and the commitment for implementation of programs for social reintegration of such people. The Dutch guest had consecutive meetings with the District Governor of Pazardjik District, and Prison Chiefs of Pazardjik and Bobov Dol prisons. The meetings at the District Administration and Pazardjik Prison were attended also by Mr. Franta Weichers, coordinator for Bulgaria of MATRA – the donor program of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The main purpose of this visit was acquaintance with the Bulgarian organization and elaboration of a strategy for the implementation of project activities at the early stages of the project.
Published by IGA, Jan 04, 13:32|
IGA at the Ministry of Justice for the inauguration of probation and prison twinning projects Today representatives of Regional Fund – IGA attended the inauguration ceremony of two Phare funded projects, at a press conference at the Ministry of Justice. The twinning projects “Strengthening the penitentiary system in Bulgaria” and “Establishment of probation service in Bulgaria” will be implemented by The Ministry of Justice through General Directorate “Execution of Punishments” and the British Prison and Probation department.
At the ceremony were the British Ambassador, His Excellence Jeremy Hill, the first secretary of the Delegation of the European Commission Fernando Ponce Canto, the British Minister of Prisons and Probation Baroness Patricia Scotland, the deputy minister of justice Margarit Ganev etc.
The invitation to IGA to participate in the inauguration ceremony was yet another recognition for the organization’s activities in the field of establishment of probation in Bulgaria.
Published by IGA, Oct 28, 17:34|
“Probation and probation services. An European perspective” Recently the book “Probation and probation services. An European perspective”, edited by Prof. Dr. Anton van Kalmthout, lecturer in Criminal Law in the University Brabant, Tilburg, Netherlands, honored lecturer in the State University of Krasnoyarsk, Russia, editor of several books and Dutch and international digests on criminal law, was published. The publication is part of the project “Civil Probation University – European standards in the implementation of community sanctions and measures as an alternatives to imprisonment”, financed through “Europe 2003 Program” of the European Commission. The book was presented on the 4th of October in the National Justice Institute, by Ass. Prof. Georgi Mitov – lecturer at the Legal Faculty of the Sofia University “St. Clement of Ohrid”, Dimitar Rusinov – Project Manager of Regional Fund – IGA, Pazardjik, and Dragomir Yordanov – Program Director of the National Justice Institute. The event was attended by the deputy minister of justice Ana Karaivanova, magistrates, representatives of the local self-government, state institutions, NGOs and media.
Published by IGA, Oct 13, 17:18|
European standards in the field of community sanctions and measures “European standards in the field of community sanctions and measures” is the second publication of Regional Fund – IGA, implemented within the project “Civil Probation University – European standards in the implementation of community sanctions and measures as an alternative to imprisonment”, financed through “Europe 2003 Program” of the European Commission. It contains the UN minimum standards for the non-custodial measures (the Tokyo Rules), the Recommendations of the Committee of Ministers of the EU member states about the European standards for community sanctions and measures, as well as for the overcrowding of prisons and the increase of the number of prisoners.
Published by IGA, Oct 13, 17:16|
“Probation Magazine”- fourth issue  Regional Fund – IGA published the fourth issue of the “Probation Magazine”. The publication was implemented with the financial support of “Europe 2003 Program” of the European Commission - project “Civil Probation University – European standards in the implementation of community sanctions and measures as an alternative to imprisonment”, and is dedicated to the implementation of the project. It contains information about the Information days, the most interesting lectures within the information days, as well as some information about the international lecturers, chronology of the events, bibliography etc. The publication was printed in English version also.
Published by IGA, Oct 13, 17:14|
IGA at a workshop in Norway From 14 to 16 September 2005 in Lillehammer, Norway a workshop of the Conference Permanente Europeene de la Probation (CEP) was held. Regional Fund – IGA represents Bulgaria in this organization. At the workshop the establishment an development of the community sanctions and measures in the 20 countries represented were discussed. Main lecturers were representatives of Norway, England, Wales, France, Czech Republic and Malta, and in the working groups the participants had the opportunity to exchange experience. Dimitar Rusinov and Marina Manolcheva participated actively in the discussions on topics like “Basic Development of Probation”, “Relation between judicial system and probation”, “Contents of the Community Sanctions”.
Published by IGA, Oct 13, 17:10|
IGA opens a Center for Social Services On 19th July in Regional Fund – IGA it was officially opened a Center for social services. The project “Daily Center for Probation Services – providing of specialized social services of offender in society” is implemented with the financial support of United Dutch Foundations for Central and Eastern Europe represented in Bulgaria from Tulip Foundation. Ivan Evstatiev – mayor of Pazardjik Municipality and Theo Seldenrust, member of the Board of managers of Tulip Foundation opened officially the new social acquisition. The Chairman of the Municipal Council Todor Popov congratulated IGA and the Regional Governor Ivan Dimitrov sent a congratulatory letter. To the event took part Maria Petkova – Director of Tulip Foundation, Mileti Oresharski – director of the prison in Bobov dol, Veselin Kotzev – director of prison in Pazardjik, Katya Yaneva – director of the Labor Office Pazardjik, Pani Lukov – director Children Pedagogic Office to the police, Dimitria Tzerova – director of the Child Protection Department, members of the Coalition “Civil activity against corruption”, many journalists, social workers and citizens.
Published by IGA, Oct 13, 17:08|
Pazardjik represented at an international conference During September 14-16 in the Moldavian capital Chisinau an international forum was staged – “Juvenile Justice in East and South-East Europe”. In this conference, organized by the Moldavian NGO “Institute for Penal Reform” with the support of the UNICEF and ICCO, part took the leaders of all justice related institutions in Moldova, as well as representatives of institutions and NGOs from 10 countries from the region – Moldova, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Estonia, Romania, Albania and Macedonia. Among the invited were experts from the USA, Australia, Sweden etc. special guest to the forum was Renate Winter – UN international judge and expert in the field of juvenile justice. The aim of this forum was to present to the participant the juvenile justice systems of the countries in the region of East and South-East Europe. At this forum Bulgaria was represented by Andrei Momchilov, legal adviser and manager “International projects” of Regional Fund – IGA. He presented his report “The Bulgarian Juvenile Justice System”. This presentation, together with the others, will be published and distributed to relevant stakeholders in 12 countries. The invitation to the Pazardjik based organization to participate in this huge forum was the latest recognition for its work in the field of juvenile delinquency prevention on both regional and national level.
Published by IGA, Oct 13, 17:06|
Experts from the Youth Justice Board – Lectors in the training seminar within IGA’ project On 7th September in the winter resort Pamporovo starts the first training seminar within the project of Regional Fund – IGA “Improving inter-agency collaboration between government institutions, local government, judiciary system and civil society for introducing European standards for prevention of juvenile delinquency” funded by Global Opportunity Fund to the British Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In the framework of 5 days the experts from the British Youth Justice Board Maggie Blyth and Bob Ashford will train representatives of the Local Commissions for Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency from the whole country in effective practices and models for inter-agency collaboration. The seminar is organized by Regional Fund – IGA in partnership with the National Institute of Justice. The seminar continues until 11th September.
Published by IGA, Oct 13, 17:04|
Theo Seldenrust and Maria Petkova fromTulip Foundation – special guests of IGA  Satisfaction of the achieved results expressed Mr. Theo Seldenrust – member of the Board of managers of Tulip Foundation and the director of the Foundation Maria Petkova. In the special speech before the opening of the Center for social services Mr. Theo Seldenrust remembered the long years common work of the United Dutch Foundation with Regional Fund – IGA and gratification of the achieved results within the last project “Daily Center for Probation Services – providing of specialized social services of offender in society”.
Published by IGA, Oct 13, 16:58|
In the Red House Center for Culture and Debate – a debate on probation  The Red House Center for Culture and Debate in Sofia welcome this time the informational day – lively discussion on probation problems. Leading specialists in this field from Bulgaria, the Netherlands and Estonia presented and commented the European standards and practices on probation. In the debate took part Associate Prof. Georgi Mitov, faculty in the Juridical Faculty of Sofia University “Kliment Ohridski”, Valentina Karaganova – Head of the “Probation” Department to the General Directorate “Execution of Punishments”, Konstantin Tomanov - Secretary of the Central Commission for Prevention of the Juvenile Delinquency etc. With this fourth Informational day ended the Civil Probation University. About 200 persons - magistrates, judges, prosecutors, investigators, representatives of police, prison, probation service, representatives of the local authorities, NGOs and media had the possibility to know the main documents of the European Union in this field, to get more information about the international organization Conférence Permanente Européenne de la Probation (CEP) and about leading probation models in Europe.
Published by IGA, Oct 13, 16:52|
European standards on probation were discussed during the seminar in Pleven  On 29 June Regional Fund – IGA implemented the third Informational day on probation within the project “Civil Probation University - European standards on the implementation of community sanctions and measures as alternative to the imprisonment” funded by the Delegation of the European Commission in Bulgaria within the Europe 2003 Program. After Stara Zagora and Plovdiv, Pleven was the third city which became a controversial center on probation problems. Besides Prof. Dr. Anton van Kalmthout Professor for Criminal Law and Comparative Criminal Law at the University of Brabant in Tilburg, the Netherlands and Honorary Professor at the State University of Krasnoyarsk, Russian Federation who took part in the informational days in Plovdiv and Stara Zagora, with a presentation participated also Rait Kuuse, Head of the Probation Division to the Ministry of Justice, Estonia and member of the Board of Conférence Permanente Européenne de la Probation.
Published by IGA, Oct 13, 16:50|
Global Opportunity Fund (GOF) at British Home Office finances IGA’s new project. “Improvement of inter-agency co-operation between state institutions, local authorities, judiciary system and the civil society for implementation of European standards for prevention of juvenile delinquency” is IGA’s latest project which started this month. Partners in execution will be the Central Commission for Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency, the National Judiciary Institute, 30-40 municipalities and local commissions for prevention of juvenile delinquency, 30-40 courts and police departments (Child Pedagogic Room). The duration of the project is two years and it ends March 31st 2007.
Published by IGA, Oct 13, 16:47|
A judge from Plovdiv District court held lecture on probation  On May 19th the second information day intended to popularize probation as an alternative for imprisonment was held. In the conference hall of “Maritza” Hotel in Plovdiv lecturers from Bulgaria, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic discussed probation as a new kind of punishment. The European probation “University” enjoyed high attendance and activeness of the participants - around 30 people - magistrates, representatives of the local prison, the Police, local authorities, social and educational institutions. The next places to stage informational days to popularize probation as an alternative for imprisonment will be Pleven and Sofia. They will host these events at the end of June(on the pic.- judge E.Zahova)
Published by IGA, Oct 13, 16:44|
“Practical aspects of implementation of probation” This is the name of the lecture of Plamen Zlatev - judge in Stara Zagora District Court(on the pic.), which was presented to the participants in the informational day “Civil probation university”.On May 18th in the conference hall of the “Vereya” Hotel - Stara Zagora the first informational day within the project took place. Among the participants were representatives of the Court, the Prosecution, the Stara Zagora Prison, the Police, representatives of the local authorities, non-governmental organizations, social and educational institutions, media and citizens.
Published by IGA, Oct 13, 16:42|
Professor in Criminal Law in the Netherlands is lecturer in “Civil probation university”  During the two days on which the informational days on probation were held, presentations were made by Mrs. Lenka Ourednikova (on the pic.) - vice-chairman of the Institute for Probation and Mediation - Czech Republic and vice-president of the Permanent European Commission on Probation (CEP) and Prof.Dr. Anton van Kalmthout (on the pic.) - Professor in Criminal Law at the Brabant University in Tilburg, honored lecturer in the State University in Krasnoyarsk - Russia.
Published by IGA, Oct 13, 16:40|
“Civil probation university” - informational days within the “Europe’2003” Program On May 18th and 19th in Stara Zagora and Plovdiv informational days were held within the Project “Civil Probation University” - European standards in implementation of community sanctions and measures as an alternative for imprisonment. This project is aimed at conducting a broad informational campaign for popularization of probation in 3 plan regions and five Bulgarian districts. Two publications have been provided for - the first one is specialized, and the other contains the basic EU Recommendations. A seminar and four informational days on probation have been planned (part of which were the events in Plovdiv and Stara Zagora.); as well as informational-advertising activities etc. Among the lectors that are taking part in the realization of the project are experts from EU-member states.
Published by IGA, Oct 13, 16:37|
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Pool
Are You see the corruption?
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