Everyone went to dinner, but he went to hang himself

A suicide attempt was committed in Daryevskaya IK-10.

Problems in regulating the activities of mobile groups

The absence of open discussions regarding the regulation of mobile groups may lead to these groups—a phenomenon unique to post-Soviet countries in certain respects—becoming a mere formality. Even now, in my view, there is a burgeoning tendency for mobile groups to work not for results (as there is no unified vision of what such results should be), but for statistics requested by government institutions.

Inquiry to the Head of the Department

An inquiry to the Head of the Department for the Execution of Punishments, O. I. Halinsky, regarding the alleged beating of prisoners in the Lutsk remand prison, sent on 1 December by “Donetsk Memorial”. The response will be posted on the “Prison Portal” website.

Prisoners beaten in Lutsk, traces hidden in Lviv

The Lviv Directorate of the Department for the Execution of Sentences responds to the inquiries of a non-governmental organisation regarding the alleged beating of prisoners with... silence. Will the leadership of the Department also remain silent? Press release of the Centre for Legal and Political Studies ‘SIM’, Lviv

A new threat to the rights of convicts?

The idea of creating a special purpose unit with the specified goals and tasks grossly violates the rights of convicts and other persons, as defined not only by the Penitentiary Code and other legislation of Ukraine but also by the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. CONCLUSION regarding the draft Regulations on the Special Purpose Unit of the State Penitentiary Service of Ukraine

Position of Assistant to the Chairman added to the central office staff of the department

A position of Assistant to the Chairman for Human Rights Compliance in Penal Institutions and Pre-trial Detention Centres has been added to the central office staff, and a Centre for Preventive Monitoring and Protection of Human Rights in the Activities of Bodies and Institutions of the State Penal Service of Ukraine has been established.

A new human rights initiative

The Department for the Execution of Sentences is considering the possibility of creating a structure that would monitor the observance of human rights – the Centre for Preventive Monitoring and Human Rights Protection. The draft Regulation on such a Centre is provided below.

Cultivating respect for the law

The Chernihiv Women’s Human Rights Centre conducted training with minors held in the Chernihiv SIZO

How much does it cost to maintain prisoners?

Expenditure on the maintenance of a prisoner per month in 2009 is 1,066 UAH, per day – 35 hryvnias.

Pardon is an important function of the President

An article by People’s Deputy V. Moisyk, Chairman of the Commission under the President of Ukraine on Pardon Issues, titled ‘Pardon is an important state function of the President’, was published in the newspaper ‘Voice of Ukraine’ on 5 November 2009. It provides statistical data on pardons in 2008–2009. The text of the Regulations on Pardon can be found on the Prison Portal website at http://www.ukrprison.org.ua/index.php?id=1216005650

Paid services provided by penal institutions

According to the Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 1017 of 8 August 2007, penal institutions and pre-trial detention centres may provide paid services, the list of which has been approved by this Resolution.

Prisoner beaten in Lutsk SIZO?

Convict Vitaliy V. suffered multiple bodily injuries