Horrific practice of torturing prisoners exposed in Ukrainian penal colonies
29 May 2024 11:25
A large-scale system of brutal torture and abuse of prisoners in a number of penal colonies in Ukraine has been revealed. Newly arrived convicts were subjected to real torture in order to break their will and make them submissive. This was reported by the State Bureau of Investigation and the Office of the Prosecutor General, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
According to the investigation, torture was the norm for almost all newcomers to these colonies. They were threatened with joining the “rejected” prisoners and ruthlessly beaten with hands, feet, truncheons, inflicting hundreds of blows to various parts of the body. The violence did not stop until the victims obeyed unconditionally.
It was established that there was a “brutal acceptance procedure” – newly arrived convicts were forced to clean the cell, with the process being recorded on video. If they refused, they were brutally tortured – their arms were twisted and they suffered severe bodily harm. There is a video of more than 200 blows to one prisoner. There is even information about possible cases of deaths from beatings.
Facts of torture were found in Bozhkovska correctional colony No. 16 in Poltava region and in other institutions. Four employees of the Bozhkovska colony were notified of suspicion of torture under Part 2 of Article 127 of the Criminal Code, which is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The issue of their arrest is being resolved. The involvement of other employees, including management, is being investigated.
Information about a possible organised system of extortion and extortion, as well as the illegal enrichment of the head of the penitentiary department is being checked.
