12:35, 6 May 2004

NGOs accuse prison administration of cruel treatment of convicts

Approximately 20 people picketed a penal institution in the village of Tlyustenkhabl in the Republic of Adygeya on May 5. Among the picketers were representatives of the Krasnodar regional NGO Mothers in Defense of Rights of Arrested Persons, Persons Under Investigation, and Convicts and the Sochi city NGO Mercy to Convicts. The aim of the action was to draw attention of the public to the inmates' maintenance conditions in this institution.

The situation in the prison is severe, said Tatyana Rudakova, head of Mothers in Defense of Rights of Arrested Persons, Persons Under Investigation, and Convicts. The prison administration was deposed in early March 2004, charged with the cruel treatment of convicts. But the situation has not improved at all.

"We have information that the interim prison administration is ready to provoke the inmates into illegal actions, which, on the one hand, will let it toughen the regime, and on the other hand, will constitute justification for the actions of the previous administration. We are ready to do our best to stabilize the situation in the prison," Tatyana Rudakova said.

Author: Yana Lobastova, CK correspondent

Source: Caucasian Knot