"Jammers" for mobile communication in the investigative isolation ward of Makhachkala are working still more intensively, the convicts' relatives state

The convicts' relatives state that after the end of their hunger strike the situation with the "jammers" for mobile communication established in investigative isolation ward (IIW) No 1 of Makhachkala became even worse. Representatives of Department of Federal Penal Service (DFPS) and human rights activists doubt about the possibility of causing damage to people's health by this equipment.

In fact, after the end of the hunger strike the convicts' conditions in IIW No 1 of Makhachkala became only worse, one of the convicts' relatives told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"None of the promises was fulfilled, moreover, the "jammers" for mobile communication the convicts complained about are now working at a total power. For this reason the convicts started complaining of headache and sudden nosebleeds", our interlocutor said.

According to him, the reason for the convicts' complaints about the "jammers" is not farfetched as members of the top brass state "because they are allegedly not let use mobiles".

"The same equipment has been established before, however, it did not inflict harm on one's health. There are no plans of renewal of the hunger strike yet but if violations of human rights in the IIW go on the convicts driven to desperation will have to resort to such measures. In addition to the "jammers", the question with the gratings set on the windows has not yet been solved. The convicts were promised that they would be put in order in accordance with the regulations but nobody has fulfilled this promise, too", our interlocutor said.

However, representative of Press service of Dagestani DFPS Amirhan Magomedov assures that "all the convicts' demands and complaints are farfetched". Corrected by the editorial board, 17.09 14:29: representative of Press service of Dagestani DFPS Amirhan Gasanov.

"The system of suppression of mobile communication was approved in a number of Russian investigative isolation wards and prisons yet in 2008. This equipment is certified and there is an expert opinion of Sanepidnadzor about the absence of its impact on people's health", Amirhan Gasanov said.

According to Amirhan Gasanov, the equipment for suppression of mobile communication is quite noiseless, "it influences only the waves of mobile communication". In his opinion, the convicts' complaints are caused by "irritation".

"If the convicts really had fits of headache and nosebleeds why did they not say a word to the doctor working in IIW?", an official of DFRS asked.

"If the convicts state that the state of their health declines then why do the "jammers" have no impact on the workmen of the ward who are also under a so-called influence of this techniques", Gasanov asked adding that "harmlessness of the "jammers" was also confirmed by officials of Public prosecutor's office who arrived on receiving an information from mass media about a hunger strike allegedly going in the IIW".

Gasan Aigunov, Chairman of Committee of control of observance of human rights in places of forced imprisonment of Public Chamber of Russia reported that he had no information whether there were any results of expertise concerning the "mobile communication blockers being harmful for people's health".

A representative of Public prosecutor's office of Dagestan told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that the jammers of mobile communication were quite safe for people's health and established in places of confinement for the persons under investigation not to be able to influence the investigative process by contacting their partners in crime at large.

Human rights activist Igor Sazhin, Chairman of Komi Human Rights Committee (KHRC) "Memorial" also agrees with this opinion and considers that the convicts' irritation was caused just by the fact that "they lost the ability of using mobiles".