News Flash
Council of Europe Anti-Torture Committee visits the
Russian Federation
Strasbourg, - 17.09.2007 - A delegation of the Council of Europe's Committee
for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
(CPT) recently carried out a one-week visit to the Russian Federation.
The visit, which began on 3 September 2007, focused on the treatment of
prisoners in the Chelyabinsk Region of the Russian Federation. The delegation
visited two strict-regime penitentiary establishments, Colony No. 1 in
Oktyabrskyi settlement and Colony No. 6 in Kopeysk. In addition, it paid a visit
to the Special Purpose Unit (“Spetsnaz”) of the Federal Service for the
Execution of Punishments (FSIN) in the Chelyabinsk Region. Further, the
delegation went to Prison Hospital (LPU) No. 3 in Chelyabinsk in order to
interview two prisoners transferred from Colony No. 1 and to study medical
documentation.
The visit provided an opportunity to discuss with Yuri KALININ, Director of the
FSIN, the implementation of previous recommendations made by the CPT as regards
the Russian prison system. Further, the delegation met Pyotr SUMIN, Governor of
the Chelyabinsk Region, as well as Alexander VOYTOVICH, Prosecutor in Charge of
Supervising Legality in Establishments for the Execution of Sentences in the
Chelyabinsk Region.
The visit was carried out by the following members of the CPT:
- Zděnek HÁJEK (Czech), Head of
delegation
- Ladislav GETLĺK (Slovak)
- Veronica PIMENOFF (Finnish).
They were supported by Borys WÓDZ of the CPT's Secretariat, and assisted by
James McMANUS, Professor of Criminal Justice at Glasgow Caledonian University,
United Kingdom (expert).
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