The Prosecutor's Office has opened a criminal case in connection with the beating of a prisoner in the Vinnytsia colony

The Vinnytsia Region Prosecutor's Office has opened a criminal case regarding the beating of a prisoner by officials of Vinnytsia Penal Institution No. 1.

This was reported by the Assistant Prosecutor of Vinnytsia Region for the control of compliance with the law on the execution of court decisions in criminal cases, Andriy Kobyliansky.

According to him, the criminal case was opened based on an inspection conducted by the regional Prosecutor's Office in connection with repeated reports of inadequate conditions of detention in the institution.

“The reports of convicts regarding their safety while in the institution were found to be well-founded. This is evidenced by the fact of unjustified physical violence applied to one of the convicts using special means and an abuse of official authority,” clarified Kobyliansky.

He added that the victim is currently safe, and his health condition is assessed as satisfactory.

“After the intervention of the central apparatus of the State Department for the Execution of Sentences and certain personnel changes in the management structure of the State Department for the Execution of Sentences in Vinnytsia Region, the situation in the institution has improved, and has become controlled and manageable,” added Kobyliansky.

A criminal case has been opened regarding this fact under Article 365, part 2 (abuse of power accompanied by violence) of the Criminal Code.

An investigation is underway.

As reported, at the end of August, the State Department for the Execution of Sentences dismissed the Acting Head of Vinnytsia Penal Institution No. 1, Serhiy Kozachyshyn, for beating a prisoner.

Earlier, the Vinnytsia Human Rights Group reported that on 2 June, in the intensive care unit of Kirovohrad Hospital No. 1, 22-year-old Ukrainian citizen and resident of Svitlovodsk, Anatoliy Levchun, died as a result of numerous beatings received in the SIZO.