Human rights activists criticise the situation in Ukrainian prisons

Representatives of the All-Ukrainian Association of Convicts’ Relatives and the international human rights organisation ‘European Movement’ have criticised the conditions of detention for prisoners in Ukrainian pre-trial detention centres and prisons. According to the human rights activists, prisoners are being abused and forced to work in slave-like conditions.

Cases of cruel treatment of prisoners are almost never registered in Ukraine, the public figures state. In the opinion of Denys Tsypin, a representative of the ‘Freedom’ Human Rights Protection Centre, this is facilitated by the closed nature of the Ukrainian penitentiary system and the unwillingness of investigators to objectively investigate cases of convict beatings. Therefore, the human rights activists claim, 99% of cases of torture against prisoners in Ukrainian colonies remain without proper consideration. “Statements are taken from two or three representatives of the pre-trial detention centre who testify that this person was never beaten, and that it was done by other convicts. And on the basis of these words alone, a decision is made to refuse the opening of a criminal case regarding the fact of torture. This pattern is everywhere,” said Tsypin.
The gathered facts of convict beatings were demonstrated to journalists by the human rights activists. They stated that they had appealed to the Prosecutor’s Office with a demand to conduct an investigation, but had not received a response. Therefore, public organisations are initiating moves to make the Ukrainian penitentiary system accessible to the media at any time and to introduce administrative liability for refusing to provide journalists with access to correctional facilities.
The head of the press centre of the State Department for the Execution of Punishments, Oksana Velkova-Lahoda, says that mass media can even now visit penitentiary system facilities without hindrance. “This is not a zoo or a museum, to be visited freely whenever one wants. Free access is available only to employees of the Prosecutor’s Office and the Ombudsman. These organisations are established by law. But you can submit a request to the State Department for the purpose of clarifying or verifying information, and you will be given an answer. We have many people who come to check in this way,” emphasised the official from the State Department for the Execution of Punishments.

Liliia Hryshko