today 20.05.2013 19:06
(by Kyiv time) navigation |
|
 |
Human Rights in Ukraine Information website of the Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group |
 |
 |
 |
Óêðà¿íñüêà | Ðóññêèé | English |
Over the last two years there has been a surge in the number of prisoners committing suicide, with the numbers 34% up on 2008-2010. The number of deaths in penal institutions has also risen 
Human Rights Ombudsperson, Valeria Lutkovska claims that this is the law and that she will not be intervening. Lutsenko’s lawyer and the UHHRU Executive Director disagree, saying the right to see ones lawyer is unconditional 
The increase seen over the previous two years was stemmed in 2012, almost exclusively through a fall in the number of remand [SIZO] prisoners 
An analysis of the grounds for turning down applications for early release of prisoners with grave conditions, with these unfortunately including shoddy preparation of applications, etc 
Human rights workers say that the conditions in women’s penitentiary institutions have somewhat improved over recent years, but not medical care and women can be released with tuberculosis and a whole range of chronic illnesses 
According to an article by Andrei Sanarovych in the Crimean version of Komentari, since the end of September almost all purchases of vegetables in Ukrainian prison colonies and SIZO [remand units] have been cancelled 
The administration of the Mensk Corrective Colony where Yury Lutsenko, former Interior Minister and opposition leader is being held, has banned Mr Lutsneko from passing letters to the outside world 
The mortality rate is significantly higher than between 2007 and 2010, as well as a coninuing increase in the number of cases of suicide 
The human rights organization Donetsk Memorial has addressed an open appeal to the President, Prosecutor General and Human Rights Ombudsperson regarding what it calls systematic violations by the State Penitentiary Service of Ukraine’s Constitution and laws 
As reported the case of Ihor Zavadsky, a prize-winning accordion-player has given rise to sensational headlines, but also concern. He has now been remanded in custody for another 4 month 
Kostyantin Usov, TVi journalist and producer of the programme “Lukyanivka. Prison No. 1” has posted a blog on Ukrainska Pravda in which he offers a 15 thousand UAH reward for information about the people who attacked one of the people in his film. 
On 18 April the Constitutional Court announced that people serving sentences in penal institutions have the right to participate in hearings into their case at all levels, and pointed out that this right is not presently defined in procedural legislation 
Human rights workers and the relatives of convicted prisoners suspect that the latter were beaten and subjected to torture at the Dnipropetrovsk SIZO [detention centre]. They are sceptical of the official version that the prisoners received injuries during a fight with convoy guards 
The website is created with assistance of the International Renaissance Foundation and National Endowment for Democracy (USA)
For using of materials from the site, reference to the information source is obligatory