Report on the results of a monitoring visit to the Oleksiivska Correctional Colony No. 25

On 21 June 2019, a monitoring team from the NGO ‘Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group’, consisting of Volodymyr Hlushchenko, Maksym Reviakin, and Tamila Bespala, visited the State Institution ‘Oleksiivska Correctional Colony (No. 25)’. The State Institution ‘Oleksiivska Correctional Colony (No. 25)’ is a medium-security colony (for the confinement of men sentenced to imprisonment for a specific term who have previously served a sentence of imprisonment). There was no obstruction to accessing the institution. The institution has a reputation for systemic human rights violations. Correctional Colony No. 25 is located in the city of Kharkiv, in the centre of the Oleksiivka residential area.

Medical Unit

Initially, the monitors visited the medical unit. The medical unit has a fairly modern appearance, far superior to even most civilian state hospitals. The head of the medical unit testified that the unit is supplied with medicine, but noted that some medicines are still needed. The colony has two fluorographs and other modern equipment. However, it was strange when the monitors visited a ward of the medical unit around 11:00, where convicted persons were staying, and everyone pretended to be fast asleep. One who was not sleeping reported that the treatment was going well, all medicines were available, and there were no complaints. However, the monitors noticed that a so-called ‘orderly’ (an assistant to the administration) had run into the ward before them.

Also in the medical unit, there is a modern dental office and a laboratory with all the necessary equipment and reagents, as the head assured us.

There are also quite comfortable and cosy recreation rooms, one of which has access to a winter garden with an artificial pond, a rehabilitation room with a massage chair, and a dining room.

The wards are also in good condition.

There is drinking water and information about the Human Rights Commissioner in the medical unit.

During the monitors’ visit, 8 people were in the medical unit.

DIZO/PKT

The monitors also visited the DIZO/PKT sector. At the time of the visit, 4 people were being held in the DIZO/PKT. The corridors are renovated. Of course, no one had any complaints.

The cells look tidy, have sufficient daylight, and are provided with drinking water. The toilet in the cell is partitioned by a small door, which allows the person staying there to achieve a minimal level of privacy.

On the territory of the DIZO sector, there are two exercise yards, which are fenced with bars. In the yards, there is sports equipment and benches for sitting.

Residential Wards

The monitors visited the tenth and second residential wards.

The tenth ward was recently renovated. In the residential premises, there are new beds produced at the institution’s enterprise. Everything is very clean and tidy, the beds are made in a military style, and there were several convicted persons in the residential area who were sleeping.

The toilet rooms are equipped with new sanitary ware and appear clean; however, during the visit, there was no hot water in the ward. The toilet stalls are separated from each other by high doors.

There is a corner with legal literature. The administration assured that they try to update the literature every year.

Also in the ward’s corridor, there are posters with advice on how to quit smoking, how to protect oneself from infections, and historical posters about memorable events in the history of Ukraine.

The yard of the local sector where the ward is located is quite tidy; on the walls, there are photographs of landmarks of the city of Kharkiv. Also, in the yard, there are benches and sports equipment.

Production

The institution has powerful production facilities. The enterprise of Correctional Colony No. 25 manufactures trailers for passenger cars of various modifications with a completed technological cycle (70% of total production volume), furniture and joinery, metal products, building materials, household equipment, and consumer goods, and has a paint shop. It manufactures summer tents for beer companies upon order. At the time of the visit to the paint shop, most of the convicted persons were working without protective masks, despite the unbearable smell of paint; however, seeing the monitoring team, all those who were without masks ran to the end of the shop and returned wearing new, snow-white protective masks. Everyone, of course, had no complaints and would not look us in the eye.

EU Project ‘Fight against torture, ill-treatment and impunity in Ukraine’