Members of the Sverdlovsk Public Monitoring Committee have to take measurements of living space in the cells in the old ways

On 26 December 2014 members of the Sverdlovsk Public Monitoring Committee — Vasily Rybakov and Sergey Kirillov inspected the pretrial detention center -1 of Yekaterinburg.

In the course of inspection defenders have checked the squad № 24 where they have randomly inspected living conditions in the cells № 4, 5 and № 7.

At one of the cells a convict X. has complained of discrepancy of sizes of living space with standards of the Penal Code of the Russian Federation.

In accordance with a decision of court about legitimacy of denial of access for public defenders to the facility with measurement instruments, members had to take measurements with help of Russian traditional length standards.

As a result, size of a cell is Russian fathom (equals 2,14 m) × 1 m².  Size of a window is one cubit ×one cubit (equals 45 cm). Depth of a window is arshine (equals 45 inches). During measuring of the cells space in the old way defenders have found there holes.

In accordance with a decision of court about legitimacy of denial of access for public defenders to the facility with cameras, defenders had to make sketches of the cells.

Also defenders have heard complaints of missing TV and fridge in the cells. Video camera apparently is taping the process while inmates are relieving of themselves. Wet unit is not isolated there and also lamp is missing.

Members of the Sverdlovsk Public Monitoring Committee were talking to convict B. who has told about crimes committed by officers of the penal colony № 47 in Kamensk-Uralsky under art. 290 of the Penal Code of the Russian Federation.

This message has been enforced by evidence in court and its decision. (Convict B. at the time of detainment has committed a crime with help of means prohibited to bring. He has got them from jailers for money).  Convict B. also has provided us with a cope of letter of verification about transfer of money.

After verification, a message about crimes by officers from the penal colony № 47 of Kamensk-Uralsky has been passed into authorized bodies.

Human rights defenders of the Urals