Another assault on human rights: civil society may be barred from monitoring places of detention
The Ministry of Justice is proposing a bill that would limit the access of human rights defenders to penitentiary institutions. Major human rights violations in these places are usually exposed during unannounced monitoring visits by assistants to People's Deputies, journalists, and doctors.
‘Flawless behaviour has not been established by the court’ — report on the results of a monitoring visit to Naderzhynshchynska Penal Colony No. 65
The main problem for prisoners in the colony is the impossibility of obtaining parole. Despite the fact that the colony administration supports the release of prisoners, courts groundlessly refuse to satisfy motions. Also, the prisoners complained that video surveillance cameras are being installed/planned to be installed in their living quarters.
‘In Captivity under Shellfire’ — a report on the results of a monitoring visit to the Kharkiv Correctional Colony No. 43
Since the beginning of the war, the colony has been shelled by the Russian military on numerous occasions, yet they continue to send prisoners there. After inmates are released or transferred to another institution, they complain of torture. Prisoners are searched to prevent them from taking bread out of the canteen.
‘Without the Right to Complain’ — A visit to Kachanivska Penal Colony No. 54
Psychological pressure, the impossibility of filing complaints, and a prohibition against sitting on benches in the presence of a guard. When asked why they have to greet the prison officer every time, even if they have already seen them, the convicts replied: ‘That is how we are taught to express respect for the “uniform”.’
‘Slavery in the 21st Century’ — a report on a visit to Temnivska Corrective Colony No. 100
During 2022–2023, not a single convict lodged a complaint regarding conditions in the colony, which may indicate a fear of the administration. Prisoners are forced to adhere to absurd rules that serve solely for humiliation.‘Nine Circles of Hell’: Places of Confinement in Ukraine under Russian Occupation. March 2022 – December 2022
The title of this report, ‘Nine Circles of Hell’, was inspired by an interview with a person who survived torture while imprisoned in Northern Correctional Colony No. 90 in the Kherson Region.
In 18 Correctional Institutions, Convicts Did Not Contact the Ombudsman Once Over a Year and a Half
In 12 institutions, not only has there not been a single sealed appeal addressed to the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, but also none to the prosecutor’s office or human rights defenders. We suspect this is not because the convicts have nothing to complain about.
This year, the KHPG has provided humanitarian aid to five hundred prisoners
As part of the DIGNITY project, the Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group provides assistance to prisoners who, due to hostilities, find themselves in extremely dire conditions, having lost their social ties.
Blood business: leadership of the notorious Berdiansk Colony No. 77 detained
Today, we refer to the places where Russians hold Ukrainian prisoners as ‘torture chambers’. Before the war, human rights defenders used this term to describe several Ukrainian colonies. The Berdiansk colony was the most terrifying of them all.
Report on the Results of the Monitoring Visit to Shepetivka Correctional Colony No. 98 and Multi-profile Hospital No. 98 of the Healthcare Centre of the State Criminal-Executive Service of Ukraine
Human rights violations identified, in particular, in the work of the medical consultative commission.
Report on the results of the monitoring visit to the State Institution ‘Sokyryany Correctional Colony No. 67’
The convicts reported that in the case regarding the mass beating of prisoners, which took place in the institution on 2 August last year, the investigation is effectively not taking place regarding any of the suspects.