Convicts' relatives complain about mass beatings in colony in Kalmykia

In the course of arrival on December 4 of a new group to Colony "Salyn IK-1" in Kalmykia, about 20 prisoners were beaten; their relatives report. The colony itself and the republic's UFSIN (local Department of the Federal Penitentiary Service) deny any information about beating the inmates.

The group that arrived on December 4 to the "Salyn IK-1" comprised natives from North-Caucasian republics, as one of the relatives of the beaten inmates told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent on the conditions of anonymity.

"The victims include the victims from North Ossetia, Karachay-Cherkessia, Adygea, and as couple of persons from Dagestan," said the source.

According to his story, many of those who suffered seriously after delivery to the IK-1, are now in dungeons for 15 days "allegedly for breaking the public order."

Maria Plieva, a journalist and blogger, wrote about the beating of convicts on December 4 in her blog in the Livejournal; she also posted photo evidence about beating the inmates.

The information about the fact of beating inmates was refuted by the IK-1 and the UFSIN of Kalmykia. The local UFSIN has confirmed that on December 4 the IK-1 received a group of 19 convicts from the republics of Northern Caucasus and other places.

Earlier, Nina Efremova, an activist of the international public movement "Unity", had stated a mass beating of inmates in the colony "Salyn IK-1" at night on November 2. Then, as a sign of protest inmates cut their veins, and several persons committed self-immolation.