18/01/2022 15:11

Commissioner: Coronavirus and scabies outbreak occurs in Rostov-on-Don pre-trial detention center No. 1, where 33 Ukrainian political prisoners are illegally detained

An outbreak of coronavirus infection and scabies, a dangerous skin disease, has occurred in pre-trial detention center No. 1 in Rostov-on-Don, where 33 Ukrainian political prisoners are being held illegally, due to sanitary violations. The Commissioner for Human Rights of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Lyudmyla Denisova, learned about this from a lawyer for Ukrainian citizens.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ombudsman has systematically demanded that the Russian occupying country provide individual protection to our fellow citizens in prisons. However, appeals remain unanswered. In addition, Lyudmila Denisova constantly receives information from lawyers about non-provision of medical care, seizure of medicines and ignoring complaints of Ukrainian political prisoners about their health.

"The above actions are a gross violation of paragraph 22 of the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, approved by the UN Economic and Social Councils," she said.

Lyudmila Denisova appealed to the Commissioner for Human Rights in Russia Tatiana Moskalkova to provide appropriate health care, taking into account the recommendations of the World Health Organization and the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture from 25.03.2020, as well as professional medical care in accordance with the Minimum Standard rules for the treatment of prisoners approved by the UN Economic and Social Council and the Federal Law of the Russian Federation of 21.11.2011 № 323-FZ "On the basics of public health in the Russian Federation".

Once again, the Ombudsman draws attention to the fact that the support of our fellow citizens by the international community and the increasing pressure on the occupying country of the Russian Federation are extremely important for the release of all Ukrainian political prisoners.