KHPG consultants ever more in demand
Members of the public were given consultations by the lawyers A. Bushchenko, V. Nesterenko, I. Perepelitsa and I. Blaha, as well as by the consultants S. Karasik, M. Kryukova and M. Nedaivoda.
There were also volunteers, students of law and psychology, who took part in the reception centre’s work. Medical consultations were provided by a doctor and a psychiatrist. The KHGP reception centre cooperates with lawyers in Kharkiv and other regions of Ukraine, as well as with other civic organizations.
During the first six months of the year 593 persons approached the public reception centre.
Of these:
- 251 came to the reception centre in person
- 266 wrote to the centre
- 8 approached us through emails
- 56 either telephoned or faxed
- 12 cases were referred to us from other organzations
- 289 cases received during previous periods are still being considered or reviewed.
Social breakdown of individuals who approached the reception centre
Table 1
| Types of people who approach the centre
| Nature of the appeals | Number of appeals | % |
| Individuals serving a sentence and their relatives | Complaints against verdicts, social issues, complaints against violations during investigation and trial, complaints against the illegal actions of investigating officers and personnel of penal institutions | 211 | 35.58 |
| Individuals under investigation, their relatives and witnesses | Requests for defence during investigation, allegations of illegal detention and unlawful actions of the police | 95 | 16.02 |
| Military servicemen and their relatives | Complaints against improper treatment, social issues | 6 | 1.01 |
| Pensioners, people with disabilities and other socially vulnerable people | Civil or social issues, providing medical help | 209 | 35.24 |
| Single and divorced mothers | Social issues | 11 | 1.86 |
| Victims of crimes | Assistance during the investigation and trial | 16 | 2.7 |
| Others | Various issues | 45 | 7.59 |
| TOTAL | 593 | 100 | |
Agencies, against whom the complaints were made
Table 2
| The courts | Unfair verdicts, too heavy sentences, violations in the course of court proceedings, red tape | 244 | 41.15 |
| The Police | Illegal detention and arrest, torture and cruel treatment, absence of reaction to complaints | 63 | 10.62 |
| The Prosecutor’s office | Absence of reaction to complaints | 18 | 3.04 |
| Penal institutions | Inadequate living conditions, ill-treatment | 14 | 2.36 |
| The Army | Social issues | 6 | 1.01 |
| The local authorities | Absence of reaction to complaints, social and everyday issues, appeals against decisions | 104 | 17.54 |
| The administration of enterprises of all forms of property | Violations of labour laws, illegal dismissals | 19 | 3.2 |
| Medical establishments | Inadequate medical aid, insufficient examination of conscripts | 23 | 3.88 |
| Others | Social issues, family relations, various complaints | 102 | 17.2 |
| Total |
| 593 | 100 |
The above-mentioned staff of the reception centre gave over 800 consultations and advice (in the case of some appeals two or more consultations were needed). 57 procedural documents were prepared (law suits, claims). In 78 cases appeals were made on the clients’ behalf to the relevant state institutions, and on in 28 cases the clients’ interests were represented in courts and in state executive bodies. 6 claims have been lodged with the European Court of Human Rights. 7 cases were referred to other organizations, and 17 applications were presented to the Fund for Professional Aid to Victims of Torture. 18 applications for assistance were turned down.
We attribute the substantial increase in approaches made to our organization as being an increase in information provided to the public about the activities of KHPG in the media.