What is allowed in Rivne is not allowed in Volyn

In the Dubno Educational Colony on 23 August 2008, a competition-review of amateur artistic performances by underage convicts “Chervona Kalyna” took place. The competition was held on a topic very close to the activities of educational colonies – “The 120th anniversary of Makarenko’s birth.” The event was attended by Father Augustine, Bishop of Galicia and Lviv with his entourage, the Deputy of the State Department of Ukraine for the Execution of Sentences, representatives of the city authorities of Dubno, the Rivne Regional Administration, public organisations, including the head of the “Rehabilitation” charitable foundation G. Kornievskyi; parents of minors serving sentences in the Dubno colony were also invited. The competition took place in a warm and informal atmosphere, the pupils showed their artistic talents in various genres. Winners were determined in several categories. During the break between performances, the following took place: presentation of passports to pupils, presentation of certificates of release, greetings from guests present, and presentation of gifts (computer and other equipment, sweets for pupils who participated in the competitions, notebooks, etc.).
After the competition, a meeting was held with representatives of social services of penal institutions of the Rivne region, directors of penal institution schools, representatives of the education system, and the public on issues of the quality of education in penal institution schools, the enrolment of pupils in technical lyceums and higher educational institutions, the formation of legal clinics for teaching pupils the basics of jurisprudence, etc.
A week later, on 30 August 2008, the same amateur review “Chervona Kalyna” took place in the Kovel Educational Colony. However, the head of the “Rehabilitation” charitable foundation, Kornievskyi, was not admitted to this review.
The acting head of the department for the execution of sentences in the Volyn region, I. A. Stefanovskyi, once again violating the norms of the law, did not allow Kornievskyi G. to enter the colony for members of the “Rehabilitation” foundation. These gross violations on the part of an important official are diligently “not noticed” by the department’s leadership, and to all appeals and complaints, they answer that there are no violations. Apparently, we will have to wait for a change of President so that such violations of the law in the Volyn region cease.