UFSIN employees in Volgograd Region held responsible for keeping VIP cells in colonies

In the Volgograd Region, 15 officers of the regional Department of the Russian Federal Correction Service (known as "UFSIN") have been brought to "strict disciplinary responsibility" after VIP cells intended for crime bosses were found in Colony No. 12.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the facts of "privileged custody conditions of certain prisoners" became known in October. The check was conducted by the prosecutors in charge of supervising the observance of laws in prisons. They found comfortable cells in Colony No. 12 of the Volgograd Region, where "privileged" inmates were serving their terms.

In particular, they found three cells with upholstered furniture, plasma TV-sets, stereo systems, access to the Internet, telephones and even aquariums. Besides, they found alcoholic beverages, cold weapons and other prohibited items in the colony.

Nevertheless, on the outcomes of the inspection, the Volgograd prosecutor in charge of supervising law enforcement in prisons made a presentation to the bosses of the Volgograd Regional UFSIN.

Shortly after the inspection, the UFSIN said that the above cells were "room of educational work and psychological relaxation."

"The detection and confiscated alcohol beverages (vodka and cognac) were nothing but perfumes. Communication means with the ability to access the Internet were not confiscated. As for the knives, photos of crime bosses, playing cards, backgammon and five chargers for cell phones, these items had been confiscated earlier by the colony personnel and were kept in the back room of the administrative block, inaccessible for inmates," said the website of the regional UFSIN.

Later, the Department admitted the facts of violations. As stated in the press service of the UFSIN, they "partly took place and became because of personnel's misconduct, improper fulfilment of requirements for making searches, weak operational positions to reveal penetration channels of the articles prohibited for keeping and use by prisoners."

The prosecutor's presentation was considered and resulted in strict disciplinary measures applied to 15 employees of the regional correction system; three of them were dismissed for gross misconduct. Two deputies of the regional UFSIN head have been warned about their incomplete service adequacy, the website of the Prosecutor's Office of the Volgograd Region reports.

The Court of Arbitration has imposed a fine of 20,000 roubles on Colony No. 12 for using a federally-owned non-residential facility in violation of rules and regulations.

Materials on Colonel Zelenskiy, the head of the colony, have been sent to the FSIN in Moscow, where a decision may be made to dismiss him for "gross service misconduct". Zelenskiy himself has submitted a resignation application. He is now suspended from duty, the "Kommersant" reports with reference to a source from the regional prosecutor's office.