In SIZO of Simferopol prisoners are kept in crowded cells and unsanitary conditions – human rights defenders

The detainees are not provided with enough space in the SIZO (pre-trial detention centre) of Simferopol, premises are overheated and in unsanitary conditions.

As reported by the Crimean Human Rights Group referring to the relatives of the detainees.

“20 people are kept in the SIZO cell, in which citizen of Ukraine Volodymyr Balukh is detained, though the cell is designed for 16 people and there are not enough beds for all. The size of the cell is 42 square meters. The standard of sanitary area in the cell for one person is set at 4 square meters. Currently, only slightly more than 2 square meters are allocated per prisoner in the cell”, – said in the report.

According to information from prisoners’ relatives, people in the SIZO do not have enough free and personal space – all personal possessions, including food, household and hygiene products, are kept in the cell and take up a lot of space. The cell is overheated and sweltered, since the air temperature in Simferopol rises to 40 degrees in the daytime. People wash and dry their clothes directly in the cells. Therefore, air in tight rooms becomes too humid.

“The cells are poorly lit, the eyesight of prisoners is hampered. The premises are in unsanitary conditions – there are cockroaches, ants and other insects. Prisoners are bitten by fleas and mosquitoes. For a walk, prisoners are taken to a semi-open room that is smaller than the cell itself”, – the prisoners’ relatives noted.

In addition, according to relatives, that is given to people is practically inedible. Prisoners can only eat the food received from their relatives. But the products must be shared with other prisoners. Due to poor nutrition, many of the prisoners lost weight.

The Crimean Human Rights Group notes that such conditions of keeping people in detention are inhumane and degrading treatment in accordance with the practice of the European Court of Human Rights.

Life in such terrible conditions leads to an exacerbation of chronic and the emergence of new diseases among the prisoners.

On June 23, Balukh’s lawyer drew attention to signs of deterioration in the state of health of his client during a meeting with him in the SIZO. The lawyer of the Ukrainian will apply for a full medical examination of Balukh.

Lawyers and relatives of other political prisoners often claim about the deterioration of people’s health in the SIZO.

The Crimean Human Rights Group recorded complaints about the failure to provide timely medical assistance to Emir-Useyin Kuku, Arsen Dzhepparov, Volodymyr Dudka, Yevgen Panov, a citizen of Ukraine of Afghan origin Kabir Mohammad.

On June 20, the state of health of the defendant in the case of “Ukrainian saboteurs” Volodymyr Prisich had sharply deteriorated. According to relatives, part of his head went numb, bleeding started and he lost consciousness.

At the same time, according to relatives, many prisoners are not provided with medical assistance on time, and if they are provided, then not the medical assistance is not in the required amount.

In addition, according to Crimean lawyer Emil Kurbedinov, political prisoners, many of whom have been in custody for more than a year, are not given the opportunity to see their relatives.