Karpachova slams continued existence of SBU detention unit

Human Rights Ombudsperson, Nina Karpachova has stressed that the State Security Service [SBU] detention unit [SIZO] in Kyiv is unlawful.

At an international conference on fighting terrorism, she pointed out that there is no justification for the unlawful existence of this SIZO which, according to commitments made to the Council of Europe before Ukraine joined, was de jure closed in 2003.

She said that even under the previous management (i.e. until the change of President and almost immediately government in February – March last year – translator) the SIZO had supposed been transformed into a department backing up SBU pre-trial investigations [the distinction between this and SIZO is difficult to express – and understand – translator]. 

In 2009 the SIZO underwent major renovation and now meets all European standards.

It holds people whose investigations are being run by the SBU and Prosecutor General’s Office, as well as people detained by SBU bodies before being sent to the Lukyanivsk SIZO in Kyiv.

There has been criticism from both Gennady Moskal, National Deputy from Our Ukraine – People’s Self-Defence and Valentina Telychenko, the lawyer representing Georgy Gongadze’s widow at the fact that Oleksy Pukach who is being tried in connection with the journalist’s murder is being held there. They stress that the existence of this SIZO is not envisaged by any current Ukrainian laws.

From a report on Ms Karpachova’s address to the conference at Korrespondent.net