ETXERAT has explained that the main decision of the Spanish and French states to control the pandemic in prisons has been to "cut off regular and extraordinary communications". On the basis of the information provided by both the prisoners and their relatives, he assured that the measures established to maintain the "contact" are not sufficient, defending the development of alternatives.

Prisoners have the right to video calls in the Spanish State, but prisons are not reporting this “except on rare occasions”, and prisoners are being informed through relatives and friends. In total, fourteen prisons are making calls via WhatsApp for between 10 and 15 minutes. Their relationship has been made known since ETXERAT: “Almería, Cáceres, Castelló women, Granada (in exceptional circumstances: deaths, etc. ). ), Herrera, Jaén, Logroño mujeres (authorised), Murcia I (about to start), Ocaña I, Puerto III, Villabona (men and in exceptional circumstances), Teruel, Villena and Zaballa”. In prisons in the French State, prisoners are not entitled to video calls because of their absence.

According to ETXERAT, the difficulties in communicating in writing are also great: “Almost 20 prisons don’t get the cards.” The prisoners of eta are making more telephone calls when the usual channels of communication are interrupted, thereby increasing their costs. ETXERAT has called for a reduction in call prices.

The importance of video calls

The association of family and friends of the Basque political prisoners believes that video-calling is a matter of will. ETXERAT has claimed that prisoners who are sick, have sick family or friends and do not suffer from any kind of illness are a priority. He explained that a normal telephone call or a video call are totally different between banning visits and visas and suspending activities within the prison: “Especially young sons and daughters, older parents, people with psychological problems, people who are mentally ill or people with chronic diseases.”