In Dagestani capital, SIZO inmates stop their hunger strike

The hunger strike in the SIZO-1 (pre-trial prison) of Makhachkala was stopped because of poor health state of its participants. This was reported by relatives of the inmates, who participated in the six-day protest action. According to the Dagestani Department of the Federal Penitentiary Service (known as FSIN), there was no mass hunger strike, and it involved only one SIZO inmate.

Today, a relative of a participant of the hunger strike, on July 11, all inmates decided to stop their protest action.

"Health state of three persons, who were kept in the special block, has sharply deteriorated because of their refusal of eating," the source told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. According to him, the inmates of the special block, who initiated the protest action, were the last ones, who start eating.

The relative of the inmate has added that "the SIZO administration made some concessions, stating that the bars on the windows would be replaced in the nearest future." According to him, like earlier, "religious literature brought to inmates by their relatives for reading" "will be passed after checking by staff members of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Dagestan"; however, seal "will be placed more quickly."

Alikadi Magomedov, Chief of the Information Division of the Dagestani FSIN Department, confirmed to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent the information that all inmates do not refuse of meals. According to the official, only one inmate from the special block took part in the hunger strike.

"We have certain rules, in accordance with which, those inmates who refuse to eat for whatever reasons, should formally notify the SIZO. Only one inmate filed a statement declaring his hunger strike. Therefore, he was the only person, participating in the hunger strike," Alikadi Magomedov has explained.

"On July 9, after Ummupazil Omarov, Ombudsperson in the Republic of Dagestan, and Murad Gadjimagomedov, Senior Assistant to the Prosecutor of the city of Makhachkala, verified the complaint and explain to the inmate his rights and obligations, while being kept at the SIZO, the inmate start eating," Alikadi Magomedov said.

According to him, the information about the attempt of the defendant to commit suicide is also false.

According to Alikadi Magomedov, as of July 11, "all defendants, kept at the SIZO-1 of the Department of the Russian FSIN in the Republic of Dagestan, take meals, and there are no inmates, who refuse to eat."

Meanwhile, staff members of the Office of the Dagestani Ombudsperson told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that four persons took part in the hunger strike at the SIZO.

"We received from one SIZO inmate a complaint of use of special tools against him," said the source in the Office of the Ombudsperson.

"The Prosecutor's Office of the capital of Dagestan verifies the complaints, received during the visit to the SIZO-1 of Makhachkala, and the complainants will be informed of the results. The complaints were taken under the control of the Ombudsperson," the source stated.