The SBI detained another participant of the mass convicts` torture in «Berdyansk Correctional Colony»

The employees of the SBI detained and served a notification of suspicion to an operative officer of the state institution «Berdyansk Correctional Colony (№77)», who participated in the systematic torture of prisoners.

It was established, that the extortions and tortures in the penitentiary institution were carried out during 2016-2020. The leadership implemented the whole procedure for torturing convicts in the colony and extorting money from them and their relatives.

Upon arrival to the colony, each of the convicts went through a tough admission procedure, during which they were subjected to sophisticated types of tortures, physical and psychological pressure, the main purpose of which was to break the will of the person and force to unquestioningly follow any instructions.

After that, the convict fell into the hands of other convicts, that were selected in advance by the administration of the institution, who had agreed to participate in the criminal organization and had been determined to be the perpetrators of illegal actions.

The convicts were subjected to the numerous tortures on the daily basis during the first 14 days of their stay in the quarantine and distribution section. They were beaten with a plastic or wooden stick on the feet, fists in the area of the vertebrae of the neck, twisted arms behind the back, beaten with the stick on the gluteal region, beating off the phalanges of the fingers with the plastic or wooden sticks, and fungal infections were brought under the nails with the contaminated sewing needle. They also used binding and immobilization of a person for a long time, standing in one position for several hours, squatting more than 500 or more times, unreasonably mopping of the floor during the whole daylight hours, etc.

During the break between torture, the victims were offered to call their relatives and ask them to transfer funds to the card, the amounts of which ranged from one to hundred thousand hryvnias, depending on the financial situation of the relatives.

Unable to withstand the daily torture, the victims and their relatives were forced to comply with the demands of the torturers and send money.

The collected funds were sent monthly to the penitentiary institution in parcels for specific convicts, then were withdrawn from them and handed over to the leaders of the criminal organization.

The detained operative officer was served a notification of suspicion of participation in a criminal organization and torture under Part 1 of Article 255 (as amended by Law № 671-IX of 04.06.2020), Part 2 of Article 127 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

The sanctions of the Articles provide for imprisonment for up to 12 years.

It should be reminded, indictments have already been sent to the court against the former head of the state institution «Berdyansk Correctional Colony № 77 » and his first deputy, as well as 7 convicts who voluntarily agreed to become participants in a criminal organization and perpetrators of torture and extortion.

Procedural guidance is provided by the Office of the Prosecutor General.