Relatives alarmed by lack of information on state of prisoners in Volgograd SIZO

Mothers of the prisoners who attempted to commit suicide in a Volgograd SIZO (pre-trial prison) say that they cannot obtain any information about the condition of their imprisoned sons.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on the night of November 25, seven detainees of the Volgograd SIZO-4 inflicted injuries on themselves, and one of them was hospitalized. The Federal Penitentiary Service (known as FSIN) explained the prisoners’ protest by disagreement with the regime requirements.

Oksana Drachkova, a mother of Yuri Drachkov, who inflicted injuries on himself, complained that she knew nothing about her son’s health state. “We are not provided with information, and no one is allowed in. We are trying to find out about the state of our sons through the duty unit of the SIZO-4. They don’t tell us anything,” the woman said.

Olga Bezbozhnova, a mother of Semyon Bezbozhnov, told the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent that she was going to visit her son on November 29.

According to Olga Bezbozhnova, her son did not complain about the detention conditions at the SIZO. “I think he is afraid. An advocate asked him: ‘Do they offend you?’ Semyon said: ‘No.’ His hands and body are of blue colour. Yesterday, we were supposed to have a court hearing. The advocate and the investigator visited Semyon. No conversation took place, because he was all pale. Both of his hands are cut to meat and covered in bandages and blood,” Olga Bezbozhnova said.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on November 26, 2021 at 06:04 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.