POLICE – WITH THE PEOPLE!

The composition of such a mobile group in Chernihiv region includes a representative of the Chernihiv Public Committee for the Protection of Human Rights, Nataliya Romanova, and a representative of the Chernihiv Women’s Human Rights Center, Valentyna Badyra.

During the first visit, the group visited Chernihiv, Mensky, and Sosnytsky districts of Chernihiv region. The group members saw what the ITTs in these districts are like. In the Mensky ITT, designed for 29 people, 3 people were being held at the time of the group’s arrival. The dimensions of the cells, the lighting and ventilation standards of the room do not meet European standards, and there is no room for visits. The problem is bed linen. This is due to the fact that funds for the reconstruction

ITT have not been allocated to date, the financing of maintenance does not allow to comply with all requirements.

The detainees with whom the members of the mobile group communicated were not very aware of their rights. Kovdyk Vasyl Anatolyovych, who was detained under Art. 140, Part 2 (before that he already had 2 convictions, was extradited from Russia) asked why in Kharkiv all under investigation are forcibly shaved and why free correspondence is not allowed in Ukraine (only with the permission of the investigator). Two of the three detainees were not given the investigator’s orders when they were detained. The problem is detecting tuberculosis. Thus, when placed in the ITT, it is not possible to do fluorography immediately, so they take their word for it. An X-ray can be done within 3 days. Medical treatment in the ITT is generally a problem. There are only basic medicines available. For example, the detainee Poznyak V.A. (under Article 185 of the Criminal Code) has been kept in the ITT for about a month, because due to his diagnosis the Chernihiv SIZO refuses to accept him, and he cannot receive full treatment in the ITT. The ITT employees are doing everything possible to improve the conditions of detention. Food is brought from a local hospital, dirty laundry is washed there. The detainees have the opportunity to wash themselves, there is a small library, however, the necessary publications – the Criminal Code and the Constitution of Ukraine – are lacking. The Sosnytsia ITT has just undergone reconstruction, so the cells are equipped and lit in accordance with the standards, and the ventilation has been improved thanks to the installed Euro windows with a special protection system that allows you to open the window.

Visiting the regional departments, the group members talked with operatives, investigators, and heads of regional departments. The impression was that the police are eager for contact and understand the need for a more transparent work principle. This was also emphasized by the Assistant Minister, representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Chernihiv region Volodymyr Malai, who led the work of the mobile group. In the Mensky district, the group members talked

with the only lawyer in the district. His phone number is posted on the information board of the regional department. Unfortunately, there is no lawyer in the Sosnytsky district. This highlighted the problem of legal assistance to the population and, ultimately, citizens’ access to justice.

Natalia Romanova,

Chernihiv Public Committee for the Protection of Human Rights