Office of
Ombudsman, Press-release N 1515-2444/181-11, 30.07.2011
According to the instructions of the
Commissioner for Human Rights the members of Ombudsman’s NPM group conducted
repeated visit to Gobustan prison.
It should be noted a number of violation was
found during previous visit to the institution, necessary recommendations were
given to the administration of the facility for their elimination, at the same
time the Commissioner addressed to the Minister of Justice in this regard. It
should be noted the prison ex-chief and his deputies were dismissed from their
posts because of the offences they had committed.
The goal of the last visit was to learn the
situation of implementation of the recommendations, imprisonment conditions of
inmates in hot weather, and their treatment.
The visiting team had private conversations
with about 40 inmates, as well as with persons subjected to life long
imprisonment, learned imprisonment conditions, explained them their rights.
Most of the prisoners noted the situation in
the facility and their treatment positively changed after the substitution of
the administration.
At the same time it should be noted some of
the inmates stressed their concern about their correspondence. Thus, they noted
that their correspondence was sent to the relevant bodies after they had been
examined. The visiting team gave recommendations to the facility administration
for elimination of the shortcomings in this regard.
Other issue of concern was that the medical
service didn’t meet the standards. It should be noted as a head of NPM group
Elmira Suleymanova addressed the Ministry of Justice several times in this
regard, but during the visit it was found that the situation had not been
changed.
The prisoners also noted the cells were very
hot because of the weather. The administration of the prison was addressed in
this regard.
Later on, the members of NPM group inspected
punishment cell, and talked to each eight persons detained there. Those persons
didn’t complain about imprisonment conditions and treatment.
It was determined that though the cells were
reconstructed by the newly appointed chief, the size of the cells didn’t meet
the standards.
A number of cells of the prison also were
inspected, conversations were held with life long prisoners, and other
prisoners. They didn’t complain about the treatment.
The visiting team appreciated the
reconstruction work, also the fact that special means and handicaps weren’t
used against prisoners in 2011. They also gave necessary recommendations for
elimination of a number of shortcomings, and noted they would conduct repeated
visit to the facility.
The Ministry of Justice was addressed by the
Ombudsman for improving of the imprisonment conditions and service rendered to
inmates in the facility.
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