In Dagestan, POC members state obstacles in access to IVSs

On October 27, the local Public Chamber hosted a meeting of the officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), Public Prosecutor's Office, Supreme Court and NGO activists with the members of the Public Observatory Commission (POC) over the places of detention and custody.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports that the POC has drafted a package of recommendations and brought it to consideration of the local Public Chamber.

"To our great regret, there was nobody from the President's Administration and Cabinet of Ministers at the meeting," said Gasan Muttaevich Aigunov. "We had planned to conclude an agreement on inviting POC members into collegial bodies, which consider cases of human rights violations in places of temporary detention (known as IVSs - temporary isolation facilities). Besides, we planned to raise the issue of material support of the POC activities - we have no office and no transport means."

Observers raised the issue of media presence during visits to IVSs, as they believe the issue needs "transparency and openness."

"We get into all the colonies with television people - no problems there, but they would not let us into the IVSs. Unfortunately, there was no straightforward order to let journalists into these facilities," said the source.

Abdurakhman Yunusov and his colleagues also believe it necessary to solve the problem of the existence of those "terrifying monkey cages" (rooms for detainees at police stations).

Members of the POC have stated that too many people are brought to ROVDs (District Interior Divisions).

"While about 1800 persons are detained per month, and of them only 400 are sent to the SIZO (pre-trial prison); others are detained and released," said Mr Aigunov. "There is misunderstanding in interpreting the sense of the law, which clearly states the cases, when a person can be detained: caught on the scene of the crime or immediately after committing one; if an eyewitness or the victim of the crime point to the offender; and, thirdly, if explicit instruments of the crime are found on him or her."

In all other cases, as Mr Aigunov is sure, it is illegal to keep people behind bars.