Prisoners beaten in Lutsk, traces hidden in Lviv

On 10 November 2009, relatives of the convicted Vitaliy Voznyak approached the public reception office of the Centre for Legal and Political Studies ‘SIM’ requesting legal assistance for V. Voznyak, as they had learned that during his transfer to the place of serving his sentence, he was beaten (presumably brutally) at the Lutsk pre-trial detention centre (SIZO). The relatives allege a significant number of injuries were received by Vitaliy, specifically mentioning numerous bruises and fractures of the fingers on both hands. They also reported that at this time V. Voznyak is being held in the Lviv SIZO No. 19.
Our organisation appealed to the leadership of the State Department for the Execution of Sentences (SDES) in the Lviv region with a request to verify these facts and provide an opportunity to meet with the convicted person in accordance with Part 2, Article 8 of the Penal Code. Due to the declaration of a quarantine, we were refused a meeting with the prisoner; however, we were simultaneously informed that after the end of the quarantine, a representative of our organisation would be given the opportunity to meet with him.
We also received additional information that a prisoner named Oleksandr Oleksandrovych Moskavchuk, who was also presumably beaten at the Lutsk SIZO, is currently being held in Lviv SIZO No. 19.
On 23 November 2009, we appealed to the leadership of the SDES in the Lviv region with a written statement requesting the opportunity for a representative of our organisation to meet with the prisoners to provide legal assistance. However, despite numerous appeals to the leadership (including by telephone), there has been no response to date.
On 24 November 2009, from sources we consider trustworthy, we received confirmation of the fact of the beating and the presence of bodily injuries on these prisoners. The prisoners still have visible bruises, and there are complaints of general malaise. One of the prisoners complains that he is being administered unknown medication, which is significantly worsening his state of health.
Today, 25 November 2009, the young men are being transferred to the Manevychi Penal Colony No. 42.
We must note that reports of prisoners being beaten in the Lutsk SIZO with subsequent transfer to Lviv SIZO No. 19 are not reaching us for the first time.
When appealing to the leadership of the SDES in the Lviv region with a request for a meeting with the prisoners to provide legal assistance, we would, after some time, receive permission from the leadership of the SDES in the Lviv region. With this permission, we would appeal to the head of the Lviv SIZO, Mr B. S. Halchyshak, but at the time of our appeal, we would receive the answer that the prisoner had been transferred that morning to the place where he was to serve his sentence. However, a day or two later, we would learn from unofficial sources that this prisoner was still in Lviv SIZO No. 19.
In view of the above,
WE REQUEST
1) assistance in providing access to representatives of our organisation (or another reputable human rights organisation) to provide legal aid to the convicted persons: V. Voznyak, O. Moskavchuk;
2) that a medical examination be conducted for the presence of bodily injuries on V. Voznyak and O. Moskavchuk;
3) that the public draw the attention of the leadership of the State Department for the Execution of Sentences of Ukraine to these facts, verify the stated facts, and eliminate (or hinder) the possibility of repeating the practice of moving prisoners for the purpose of hiding traces of cruel treatment.
4) that the media draw attention to the facts of covering up cases of beatings in penal institutions through transfers to SIZOs in other regions.
L. Topolevska,
President of the Centre for Legal and Political Studies ‘SIM’