Monitoring Visit to the State Institution "Kholodnohirska Penal Colony No. 18"

1. General Information

On 11 June 2021, the KHPG monitoring group consisting of Maksym Revyakin, an assistant-consultant to a People's Deputy of Ukraine, and two journalists – Pavlo Shvab and Hanna Ovdiienko – arrived at the State Institution "Kholodnohirska Penal Colony No. 18". At the time of the visit, repair work was being carried out at the first checkpoint, and therefore some problems arose with the exit and entry of the monitoring group to the institution. Nevertheless, the administration of the penal institution did not hinder the monitors in conducting the visit. Although after entering the institution, the monitors were asked to provide all audio and video equipment they were bringing into the guarded area for registration. This was quite unusual, as this procedure was not performed in any other institution.

Kholodnohirska Penal Colony No. 18 is a medium-security penal institution for men convicted for the first time for imprisonment. At the time of the visit, 474 inmates were in the institution. The planned capacity of the institution is 915 people. Over the last year, 8 inmates were released on parole.

We must state that the funding of the institution was insufficient. Thus, the estimated needs according to the budget request for 2021 amounted to KEKV 2210 – 7,898.5 thousand UAH (47.9 thousand UAH received); KEKV 2230 – 15,470.2 thousand UAH (552.2 thousand UAH received), KEKV 2271 – 4,120.0 thousand UAH (3,199.0 thousand UAH received), KEKV 2273 – 3,696.0 thousand UAH (3,350.1 thousand UAH received), KEKV 2275 – 30.0 thousand UAH (0 UAH received). Thus, this institution, like most penal institutions in Ukraine, suffers from total underfunding, which is caused by the deficit of the state budget. Therefore, the shortcomings discovered in the institution regarding the conditions of detention cannot be blamed on the management of the institution, which in fact often does not have the funds for their elimination, but should be blamed on the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine and the State Penitentiary Service of Ukraine, because it is precisely due to their inept financial policy that such violations occur.

2. Residential Zone

At the time of the visit, 12 units were operating in the institution, and 3 more units were mothballed. Most units have similar conditions for serving sentences. Although, on the day of the visit, planned repairs were being carried out in some of the units.

The buildings of the residential zone are clean and tidy. The monitors noticed that capital repairs had been carried out in them quite a long time ago (according to the administration, 7–9 years ago), however, the premises are still in a proper sanitary-technical and material condition.

The utility and food room in the living quarters is equipped with all necessary appliances, including kettles, microwaves, and refrigerators. However, the schedule for visiting such a room was surprising – it shows that most of the time the utility rooms are closed, and inmates cannot use them.

The inmates have access to boiled drinking water in a tank.

Daily disinfection is carried out in the living quarters. A cleaning and disinfection schedule is posted next to the door of each room, which contains the signature of the person responsible for it.

The toilet rooms in the institution are quite clean and equipped with mirrors and washbasins. However, the doors in the toilet rooms are not high enough to ensure privacy.

The bedrooms are clean, and the windows are decorated with curtains. There are individual bedside tables.

3. Disciplinary Isolation Ward / Chamber-Type Premises

At the time of the visit, no one was in the disciplinary isolation ward of the institution or in the chamber-type premises. During the current (2021) year, 36 cases of inmates being in the disciplinary isolation ward were documented in the institution. Article 391 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, that is, criminal liability for malicious disobedience to the lawful demands of the administration of a penal institution, was applied to inmates in the institution twice. Special equipment was used against inmates four times during the year in the institution.

The disciplinary isolation cells are clean. Each cell has a washbasin and a toilet. Inmates have access to fresh air. The disciplinary isolation ward is also equipped with exercise yards. Repairs were being carried out in some of these yards.

4. Medical Unit

During the conversation with the monitors, the head of the medical unit reported that there is no shortage of medicines in the institution. In addition, the monitors had the opportunity to inspect the institution's pharmacy, where they saw medicinal products with different spectrums of action in stock. However, at the same time, while examining the register of incoming medicinal products from the inmates' relatives, the monitors could not help but notice that relatives pass the simplest medicines to the inmates. However, the institution's doctors reported that this is not related to the shortage of medicines. Moreover, the doctors emphasised the high level of interaction between the institution and the Centre for Health Care. In particular, in the event of the absence of a certain medical preparation, its delivery to the institution can be carried out within a few hours, because the institution is located in immediate proximity to the Kharkiv pre-trial detention centre, where the warehouse of medicinal products is based.

The monitors also had the opportunity to visit the wards of the institution's medical unit, which were clean and renovated. The medics demonstrated a special bed that can be raised and lowered, as well as, if necessary, change the angle of inclination. Inmates who were undergoing inpatient treatment did not express any complaints about the quality of treatment.

During the current year, an ambulance was called to the penal institution twice.

Not a single inmate was released from further serving their sentence due to a serious illness.

There is also a modern dental office in the medical unit. According to the administration, the dentist has free filling material, but it is of low quality – in particular, there are no light-cured fillings in the institution. The monitors also examined a modern X-ray machine, on which an X-ray of the jaw can be performed right in the dentist's office.

There is also a fluorograph available in the institution.

According to the institution's administration, no inmates have had coronavirus during the pandemic. At the same time, PCR tests have been delivered to the institution, which can be used if necessary. The institution keeps a record of such testing, which has been conducted 33 times in the last month.

5. Nutrition

The institution's canteen is a spacious room. Repairs in the canteen were also carried out a long time ago, but it still remains in a tidy and proper condition. Televisions are installed in the canteen. At the time of the visit, they were demonstrating a video about how food is prepared in the institution's kitchen. An information menu is installed in the room, from which inmates can learn about the dishes they can taste. Inmates have access to washbasins.

A good smell of freshly prepared food was in the institution's kitchen. The monitors tasted the prepared lunch and can call it quite edible. The monitors also tasted the bread baked in the institution, which was delicious.

The monitors visited the cold and hot processing units. The equipment installed in the kitchen is functional but quite old. The monitors were able to see the raw fish from which dinner will be prepared. The fish looks edible. The monitors also visited the institution's storage facility, where they saw a large amount of prepared preserves. All preserves were labelled with the type of product sealed in the jar, the date, and the time of sealing.

The institution's bakery independently provides the institution with bread, and the bread is baked in a wood-fired oven. According to the administration, this is the most economical and optimal baking option.

Although inmates belonging to three religions and six denominations are serving sentences in the institution, none of them are provided with special nutrition. In particular, persons professing Islam must eat in a special way, as their religious views do not allow them to consume certain products.

6. Bath and Laundry Complex

The number of washing machines is sufficient, and their capacity is enough for washing the belongings of all inmates.

Inmates wash according to a schedule. There is hot water in the bathhouse. Shower stalls are separated from each other by curtains, and each has a mat.

In the bath and laundry complex, there is also a paramedic's office, where both superficial and detailed examinations of inmates for the presence of bodily injuries can be carried out.

7. Production

At the time of the visit, 108 inmates were working in production and 44 inmates were working in workshops. The colony specialises in woodworking, metal structure manufacturing, and a sewing production unit also operates in the institution. Inmates work in three shifts in production and the workshop. Over the last year, there has not been a single accident in the institution's production.

When asked by the monitors about the size of their wages, inmates reported different information, although the majority indicated that the amount of remuneration is no less than the minimum wage in Ukraine.

8. Cultural Life

The institution is visited by representatives of four religious communities. Among them is the Muslim religious community "Mylyst".

Inmates generally profess three main religions – Islam, Buddhism, and Christianity.

An Orthodox church has been built and is in operation on the territory of the institution, where regular services are conducted.

There is a gym in the institution, which is equipped with football goals, basketball hoops, and other equipment. Inmates willingly engage in sports there. There are also sports trainers for different muscle groups.

9. Shop

There is a shop in the colony, planned on the principle of a supermarket. However, at the time of the visit, goods were being purchased, so the monitors were unable to assess the range of products. Inmates also have the opportunity to order goods, and their orders are fulfilled during the next purchase.