Melitopol Penal Institution (No. 144)

The State Institution “Melitopol Penal Institution (No. 144)” was part of the structure of the State Criminal-Executive Service of Ukraine and ensured the enforcement of sentences for certain categories of convicted persons in accordance with the requirements of the criminal-executive legislation of Ukraine.

The institution was located in the city of Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia region, and was an important component of the region’s penitentiary system. Its activities were aimed at ensuring the detention regime for convicted persons, the organisation of social and educational work, vocational training, and resocialisation measures.

Following the start of the full-scale invasion by the Russian Federation and the occupation of the city of Melitopol in February-March 2022, Ukraine lost actual control over the institution. In this regard, the activities of the State Institution “Melitopol Penal Institution (No. 144)” as part of the State Criminal-Executive Service of Ukraine were effectively suspended. As a result of the temporary occupation, the state authorities of Ukraine are deprived of the opportunity to manage the institution, control the conditions of detention of convicts, personnel support, and the state of infrastructure facilities.

Reliable information regarding the current status of the institution, the number of convicts, staff, and management is unavailable.

In accordance with the Constitution of Ukraine and the Law of Ukraine “On Ensuring the Rights and Freedoms of Citizens and the Legal Regime on the Temporarily Occupied Territory of Ukraine”, the city of Melitopol and the State Institution “Melitopol Penal Institution (No. 144)” located on its territory remain part of the sovereign territory of Ukraine, and state property located in the temporarily occupied territory is the property of Ukraine regardless of actual control over it.

 State Institution “Melitopol Penal Institution (No. 144)”, Zaporizhzhia region, Melitopol

Type of institution: penal institution. Status: the institution is located in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine after 24 February 2022.

Information regarding management, contact telephone numbers, and email addresses is unavailable in connection with the temporary occupation of the territory.