Prisoners in the Simferopol SIZO are unhappy about being deprived of telephones and DVDs – official information

There were indeed disturbances in the Simferopol SIZO today (6 May). This was reported to “Tsentr” by the press officer of the Crimean administration of the State Department of Ukraine for Execution of Sentences, Mykola Shyshchenko.

According to him, around 11.30, those held in custody began knocking on cell doors, and within 15–20 minutes, silence had returned to the SIZO. N. Shyshchenko explains the prisoners’ actions by saying that during the pre-holiday days, within the framework of operations “Zaslon” (Barrier) and “Shield”, searches in the SIZO became more frequent. As of 5 May, 20 mobile phones, 40 chargers, DVD players, and sharp/cutting objects had been confiscated from the prisoners.

“Naturally, there is dissatisfaction on the part of the special contingent because searches are being conducted, prohibited items are being confiscated, and so on. By their actions, they want to express their dissatisfaction, as was the case today,” says Shyshchenko.

According to him, immediately after the disturbances in the SIZO began, the head of the Crimean administration of the State Department of Ukraine for Execution of Sentences, Oleksandr Sayko, arrived and instructed the SIZO administration on the subject of “tolerant treatment of prisoners”.

Force methods and disciplinary penalties against the prisoners, according to Shyshchenko, were not used.

“Tsentr”