Russian GPO finds drawbacks in corrective establishments of Astrakhan Region

The General Prosecutor's Office (GPO) of Russia has inspected the situation with legality in Investigatory Detention Facilities Nos. 1 and 2, Corrective Colony No. 6 and Department of the Federal Correction Service (known as FSIN) for the Astrakhan Region. The result was a presentation submitted to FSIN Director on the necessity to eliminate the revealed drawbacks.

The inspection revealed numerous violations of the law while keeping detainees and convicts in custody, the most widespread being inadequate isolation of those accused, non-use of influence measures to offenders and non-observance of rules of convicts' labour safety.

It became clear that most of the cells in SIZO-1 (pre-trial prison) need major repairs. The cells of the reception department have no water supply and lavatories. The "Gazeta.Ru" Agency reports that in violation of the provisions of the Criminal Executive Code of Russia convicts are forced to stay for household works in the facility.

It was also established that some establishments neglect the requirements of the Federal Law No. 103-FZ "On Custody of Persons Suspected and Accused of Committing Crimes" as to observance of the norm of sanitary area per person, which should make 4 square meters. Thus, in one of the cells of SIZO-1 10 persons were kept instead of 6, as reported by the "Pravo.ru" Agency with reference to the official website of Russia's GPO.

In the course of the inspection, public prosecutors moved 28 protests against orders of heads of SIZOs and corrective colonies, which contradicted the law; 31 statements were passed on cancellation of illegal statements of inquiry bodies, which refused to open criminal cases. 15 employees of SIZOs, colonies and FSIN Department for Astrakhan Region were brought to disciplinary responsibility.