Kalmykia: complaints on torture in militia and prison not investigated, Vladimir Galitrov asserts

The investigating authorities of Kalmykia rejected to institute a criminal case against employees of the SIZO (pre-trial prison) of the city of Elista, who, according to Vladimir Galitrov, the expert of the Kalmyk Branch of the public movement "For Human Rights", had beaten 49 prisoners with electric shocker.

"Investigators of the Investigatory Division for Elista of the Investigatory Department of the Investigatory Committee for Kalmykia questioned the SIZO-1 personnel and the prisoners. The prisoners' arguments about SIZO personnel committing illegal acts have not been confirmed," reported Arslan Churyumov, the Senior Assistant of the Chief of the Investigatory Department for Media Relations.

According to him, on July 2, the decision to reject instituting criminal case due to absence of legally defined crime was made. Arslan Churyumov stressed that "claimant Galitrov might challenge this decision to Denis Minin, the Chief of the Investigatory Department of the Investigatory Committee of the Russian Federation for Kalmykia or to appeal to the court".

In his turn, the activist intends to appeal to the higher authorities for investigation of the mass beating of prisoners. "I will appeal to the Investigatory Committee of the Russian Federation, the UN Committee Against Torture, and other international organizations," said Vladimir Galitrov.

See earlier report: "Rights defender reports mass beatings of inmates in Elista SIZO".