Check finds no violations in actions of Nalchik SIZO staff

According to the preliminary outcomes of the check conducted in SIZO (pre-trial prison) No. 1 of Nalchik, the April 11 hunger strike of inmates was unjustified and unlawful, while the actions of the SIZO employees were legitimate, said Mukhamed Marzhokhov, the head of the Department for Kabardino-Balkaria of the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service (known as FSIN).

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on April 11 relatives of inmates stated that illegitimate actions of the staff of the SIZO-1 of Nalchik had provoked a mass hunger strike. According to relatives, 24 inmates committed a suicide attempt.

According to Mr Marzhokhov, on April 11-12, seven inmates "inflicted self-injuries, namely, stab wounds, pierced their abdominal cavities with a nail; four inmates cut their forearms; and 46 people went on hunger strike, but the situation was normalized within 24 hours."

He added that the events were instigated by the "Sokhov's grouping", which "decided to earn some authority" before their prison transfer. The materials concerning the above facts are being considered by the Investigating Department for Kabardino-Balkaria of the Investigating Committee of the Russian Federation (ICRF), he said.

On April 11, members of the republic's Public Oversight Commission (POC), who met the inmates of SIZO-1 of Nalchik, said that inmates complained about beatings.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.