How many prisoners die in captivity?

Statistical data provided by the Department for the Execution of Sentences indicate that mortality among prisoners in 2008 was the highest in the last six years, and there were more suicide cases during those years only in 2007. According to the response of the Department for the Execution of Sentences to an information request from the “Donetsk Memorial”, in 2008, 765 people died in penal institutions, including SIZOs (remand prisons) and departmental hospitals (see table), including 602 people in correctional colonies and 163 people in remand prisons. This is the highest figure in the last three years, and if one considers that the number of prisoners is constantly decreasing, it is more correct to compare the mortality rate per 1,000 prisoners. In 2008, it amounted to 5.24 (for comparison, in 2003–2004 it was 4.3, which is 22% less, during a time that was not the best in terms of the country's economic situation and funding of the system, not better than in 2008).

The number of suicide cases in 2008 — 40 — is the lowest in absolute terms. But calculated per 1,000 prisoners, this indicator (0.27) was higher only in 2007 — 0.36 — but it is higher than in 2003–2005. Of these cases, 29 occurred in institutions, 9 in remand prisons, 1 in correctional centres, and 1 involved an administratively punished person in a treatment-labour dispensary (LTP).

It is worth noting that the factors affecting mortality in departmental institutions require investigation, but it is obvious and undeniable that claiming an improvement in the situation in recent years, as the recent leadership of the department has done, is to provide the public with false information.