11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

At year's end there were 719,600 inmates in 766 ITKs; in August 2007 several riots reported in ITKs in Sverdlovsk region ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 22590]

"Most convicts were imprisoned in ITKs. At year's end there were 719,600 inmates in 766 ITKs. These facilities provided greater freedom of movement than SIZOs; however, at times, guards humiliated, beat, and starved prisoners. The country's prisons, distinct from ITKs, were penitentiary institutions for those who repeatedly violate the rules in ITKs. (…)

In August the Foundation for Prisoners Rights Defense reported several riots in ITKs in Sverdlovsk region, one involving about 700 prisoners that resulted in 18 seriously injured persons. The Federal Service for Execution of Punishment denied there had been a riot and claimed there had only been a fight between two inmates. The Foundation for Prisoners Rights also reported an August riot among 100 prisoners in the juvenile colony near Kirovograd. Official reports claimed 40 prisoners were involved. In September there was a riot in St. Petersburg's Kresty prison."

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06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

ITKs held the bulk of the country's convicts; as of December 31, there were 696,900 inmates in 765 ITKs; they provide greater freedom of movement, however at times guards humiliated, beat and starved prisoners ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19295]

"ITKs held the bulk of the country's convicts. As of December 31, there were 696,900 inmates in 765 ITKs, which provided greater freedom of movement; however, at times, guards humiliated, beat, and starved prisoners. The country's "prisons"-distinct from the ITKs-were penitentiary institutions for those who repeatedly violated the rules in effect in the ITKs."

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08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

ITKs held the bulk of the nation's convicts; they provide greater freedom of movement; at times, guards humiliated, beat, and starved prisoners to break down their resistance ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46144],  [ID 11283]

"ITKs held the bulk of the nation's convicts. As of September 1, there were 633,500 inmates in 762 ITKs, which provided greater freedom of movement; however, at times, guards humiliated, beat, and starved prisoners to break down their resistance.
The country's "prisons" – distinct from the ITKs – were penitentiary institutions for those who repeatedly violated the rules in effect in the ITKs."

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20.04.2005 - Source: Council of Europe - Commissioner for Human Rights

Conditions in the colonies better than in the other types of prison ("Report by Mr. Alvaro Gil-Robles, Commissioner for Human Rights, on his visit to the Russian Federation, 15-30 July 2004 and 19-20 September 2004 [CommDH(2005) 2]") [#32581],  [ID 11284]

"165. Persons who have been found guilty of an offence and sentenced to a term of imprisonment are sent to prison establishments normally referred to as colonies. I visited three large colonies in different parts of the country: colony 272/4 in Plishkino (Irkutsk region), colony IK-6 for women in Nijny Tagil and, finally, colony N 14 Elisavetinskaya, near Krasnodar.

166. I must say from the outset that the colonies seemed to pose less serious problems than the other types of prison. I do not wish to imply that the situation is excellent, but of all the establishments visited, the colonies are the ones where the benefits of the reforms and changes were most noticeable. This more positive impression is probably also influenced by the fact that convicted offenders do not spend most of their days confined in narrow cells but enjoy more humane conditions. Their movements are not limited to the interiors of the barrack-type buildings and they have the use of communal kitchens where they can prepare their own meals in private. The barracks also include reading rooms, television rooms and other recreation areas. Even though material conditions varied, most of them had at least these facilities.

167. I should add that during the visit we were told that several weeks before our visit to Plishkino the prisoners had mutinied. Certain NGO representatives maintained that ill-treatment of prisoners by the authorities had been the root cause of the problem, whereas other NGOs offered a different version of the facts. In any case, the prison management said that an inquiry was under way, but that according to their initial findings it had been provoked by the colony‘s mafia faction to protest against the appointment of the new director."

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20.04.2005 - Source: Council of Europe - Commissioner for Human Rights

Dietary problems still remain; significant improvements in many colonies ("Report by Mr. Alvaro Gil-Robles, Commissioner for Human Rights, on his visit to the Russian Federation, 15-30 July 2004 and 19-20 September 2004 [CommDH(2005) 2]") [#32581],  [ID 11285]

"169. In each establishment visited, I saw the kitchens and the food that was being prepared. On the days of my visits the quality and quantity of the meals were satisfactory. However, the authorities told me that there are problems in this area because the 20 roubles allocated per person/day were not sufficient, even though the situation had noticeably improved.

170. In many colonies, the management tried to find internal means of improving the quality of the food. Thus, in each establishment visited I was shown a vegetable garden and a farm where the prisoners themselves were employed. The product of their labour was used in the colony kitchens on a daily basis.

171. However, I know from letters I receive from Russian colonies and NGOs that dietary problems remain and still have to be resolved in a large number of establishments. I call on the authorities to accelerate the eradication of this problem. Persons deprived of their liberty are punished by the very fact of being placed in custody and should not suffer additional penalties and ill-treatment, such as malnutrition."

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20.04.2005 - Source: Council of Europe - Commissioner for Human Rights

Difficulties in retaining jobs for the convicts; disproportional part of the wages deducted for the accommodation costs ("Report by Mr. Alvaro Gil-Robles, Commissioner for Human Rights, on his visit to the Russian Federation, 15-30 July 2004 and 19-20 September 2004 [CommDH(2005) 2]") [#32581],  [ID 11286]

"172. It is important for offenders to be able to work while they serve their sentences. I appreciate, therefore, the efforts being made by the prison service to offer work to all those who want it. Indeed, the situation has changed notably since the end of the Soviet era - work is no longer obligatory for persons in custody but a voluntary activity for which they are paid.

173. Nevertheless problems remain. The market economy that now governs Russian society has imposed new rules which have not left the colonies untouched. They can only arrange work for those who want it if they can find business partners willing to place orders with them. According to persons I spoke to in the prison service, it was becoming increasingly hard to obtain orders and thus to retain jobs because the competition was fierce. In the three colonies visited, I was able to observe the nature and conditions of the work undertaken. In the first two the main activity was sewing, in response to orders from the Ministry of Defence and catering businesses (cooks‘ uniforms and so on). I was particularly impressed by the Elisavetinskaya colony, whose director showed me a new factory built by a private investor to produce modern building materials. The factory was able to match the best businesses in this sector of the economy. Unfortunately I was told by prisoners that its entry into service had reduced the number of jobs in the prison by a factor of three. Clearly, economic progress and modernisation also affect the very closed world of prisons. One prisoner even said that they now feared the relocation of jobs!

174. The great majority of persons who worked and with whom I spoke said that they welcomed the occupation and the chance to earn a little money. The opportunity for many young persons entering the colonies without a trade or profession to learn one and
then practice it after release is clearly a positive factor. However, certain prisoners complained that too much was deducted from their wages. From what I understood, such deductions were intended to cover the costs of the individuals‘ presence in the colony. But although this is probably not unacceptable in principle, I do not understand why these costs should amount to up to 75% of wages, which acts as a disincentive to persons who are given the impression of working for nothing."

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20.04.2005 - Source: Council of Europe - Commissioner for Human Rights

Conditions in the women’s colonies ("Report by Mr. Alvaro Gil-Robles, Commissioner for Human Rights, on his visit to the Russian Federation, 15-30 July 2004 and 19-20 September 2004 [CommDH(2005) 2]") [#32581],  [ID 11287]

"175. Colony IK-6, which I visited, is for women. It includes women who give birth during their imprisonment or who are admitted with children under three. The colony therefore has a children‘s unit where they are placed and can be visited daily by their mothers. The mothers can breastfeed and remain with them.

176. I was very impressed by the care staff gave to these children and the material conditions in this unit, where nearly everything is made by the mothers and other women who do not have children placed there. It provided a very touching picture and made it possible to forget for a few instants the horror of seeing innocent babies in prison through no fault of their own.

177. I do understand that this is for the good of the mothers and children, since the alternative to keeping them together would be even more unacceptable. However another problem arises when the children reach the age of three years, when they are separated from their mothers. This is a very difficult situation and needs to be examined and resolved. I know that representatives of the prison service are currently reviewing the matter and hope that a solution that protects the interests of both mothers and children can be found.

178. We were told during our visit about a case of ill-treatment involving three young women in the disciplinary cells. I visited them and only found one, who refused to speak to me. The head of the unit said that the other two women were receiving medical examinations. I thought I would find them in the medical department but they were not there. I was then told that they had been taken to the radiology department. I was not greatly convinced by these evasive responses, and said as much to the staff members concerned."

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