Former Volgograd SIZO inmate achieves compensation for poor custody conditions

The Tsentralny District Court of Volgograd has awarded Andrei Samoshin, a former inmate 1000 roubles in compensation for inadequate custody conditions at the Volgograd SIZO (pre-trial prison), where he was held. Samoshin claimed 500,000 roubles in compensation.

According to the case materials, Samoshin, who was convicted within a drug case, complained that the SIZO cell was overcrowded; it was very cold there in winter, and it was not disinfected from rodents and insects. Also, he was not taken out for walks and was deprived of the opportunity to breathe fresh air.

The Volgograd Regional Branch of the Russian FSIN (Federal Penitentiary Service) has stated that the conditions in the cell generally met the standards, but they admitted that the cell was overcrowded during Samoshin's stay there. His other complaints could not be confirmed, since ten years had passed since Samoshin was kept at the SIZO. This was reported in the website of the Tsentralny District Court of Volgograd.

Let us remind you that on August 23, in the colony located in Surovikino near Volgograd, prisoners, after declaring themselves supporters of the "Islamic State" (IS)*, took 12 colony employees hostage. Three employees were killed, and another one later died at hospital.

*On December 29, 2014, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation recognized the organization "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" (ISIL or IS) as a terrorist international organization and banned its activities in Russia.