The entire penal system is satisfied with the situation currently prevailing in it

Dear Mr Bukalov! Do you truly believe that our so-called 'guarantor' is in any way dedicated to the values of human rights? It is a myth. Just as much of a myth as talk about the problems of staff in the penal system. Both the 'guarantor' and the entire penal system are satisfied with the situation currently prevailing in this system. Because the system is structured for corruption; it is no secret that in the penal system everyone accepts bribes, even dogs under the fences of places of deprivation of liberty. Yesterday, for example, I became aware of facts currently occurring at Vilnyansk Detention Centre in Zaporizhzhia Region, which in my opinion are crying out. So, if I am not mistaken, the head of the operations department Vitaly Petrov, for constantly received bribes, or for other services, keeps many people in the detention centre, who for one reason or another do not wish to travel to places of punishment. For example, the so-called 'authority' of Zaporizhzhia, Leonid Gorb, 'watching over' the detention centre on behalf of the criminal underworld, has been in the detention centre for more than six years, although all legal grounds for his continued detention have been exhausted – both investigation and trial have concluded, and appeal and cassation proceedings have been completed – yet Gorb, who calls himself 'King', continues to sit in the detention centre, continues to 'rule' the underworld. But if it were only him, well, there are countless such individuals in this detention centre. And indeed, why should they travel to places of punishment, when in the detention centre it is warm, there are constant parcels, visits, and no need to work. But that is not the point; whether in this particular detention centre or others, such people would sit there – if they did not terrorise other people who found themselves in the detention centre. For to give bribes to Mr Petrov, they demand money from fellow prisoners, top-ups for mobile phones from their cellmates, and to avoid moral pressure and physical abuse from such as Gorb and other 'permanent' residents, they literally beg their relatives and loved ones for this money. This fact is crying out; I happened to hear it from people outside the detention centre walls who came with parcels. When I called the head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Authority, Mr Surov, in response I heard that there are no such facts and cannot be, and most importantly, that L. Gorb had long since been sent to a prison camp, after which Mr Surov hung up. But already this morning I managed even to speak with L. Gorb, who by the way is not in any prison camp, but is sitting in the detention centre. I managed to establish that there are countless such long-term residents in Vilnyansk Detention Centre and that they (such residents) will sit there for as long as they wish; they are in many detention centre cells. That is how Ukraine's penitentiary system allows such as Petrov, who then shares with everyone else, to receive money – moreover, the last money that, for the safety of their relatives, the parents and relatives of both those under investigation and those already convicted and awaiting transfer to places of punishment should be paying. Do you really believe that the Department's leadership is unaware that convicted persons are held in its subdivisions who, for bribes, by all means possible are sitting in the detention centre, they know, they know and actively support such actions by Petrovs, because, first, this brings in decent income; second, it allows constant abuse of people held in the detention centre; third, it allows influence over people in the detention centre, demanding they sign confessions, admit to crimes they have not committed, and all this is done by the hands of those who are afraid or for some other reason do not wish to leave the detention centre. It is highly advantageous for the Petrovs and company, and operative work is being carried out, 'crimes are being solved' and money flows endlessly into their pockets. Therefore, I believe that the Petrovs share with the Surovs, the Surovs with the Kalashnikovs and Koshchyntses, and those in turn do not forget about everyone above them. And you expect testimony from the 'guarantor' of his dedication to the values of human rights. Yours faithfully, Roman Shvydkyy.