11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Conditions in the VTKs were significantly better than in the ITKs, but juveniles reportedly also suffered from beatings and rape ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 11289]

"By year's end, 62 VTKs held 10,700 prisoners from 14 to 20 years of age. Conditions in the VTKs were significantly better than in the ITKs, but some juveniles in the VTKs and juvenile SIZO cells reportedly suffered from beatings and rape. While juveniles were generally held separately from adults, there were two prisons in Moscow and one in St. Petersburg where children and adults were not separated. Schooling in the prisons for juveniles was reportedly mandatory through a high-school graduation."

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

62 VTKs held juvenile prisoners from 14 to 20 years of age; conditions in the VTKs were significantly better than in the ITKs, but juveniles reportedly also suffered from beatings and rape ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19296]

"The 62 VTKs held juvenile prisoners from 14 to 20 years of age. Conditions in the VTKs were significantly better than in the ITKs, but juveniles in the VTKs and juvenile SIZO cells reportedly also suffered from beatings and rape. The Moscow Center for Prison Reform reported that such facilities had a poor psychological atmosphere and lacked educational and vocational training opportunities. Many of the juveniles were from orphanages, had no outside support, and were unaware of their rights. While juveniles were generally held separately from adults, there were two prisons in Moscow where children and adults were not separated and boys were held with adults in small, crowded, and smoky cells. Schooling in the prisons for children was sporadic at best."

Document(s): Open document

25.02.2004 - Source: US Department of State

Many of the juveniles were from orphanages, had no outside support, and were unaware of their rights ("Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2003") [#19737],  [ID 11290]

"VTKs are facilities for prisoners from 14 to 20 years of age. Male and female prisoners were held separately. In August, GUIN reported that there were 62 educational colonies, 3 of which were for girls. Conditions in the VTKs were significantly better than in the ITKs, but juveniles in the VTKs and juvenile SIZO cells reportedly also suffered from beatings, torture, and rape. The PCPR reported that such facilities had a poor psychological atmosphere and lacked educational and vocational training opportunities. Many of the juveniles were from orphanages, had no outside support, and were unaware of their rights. There also were two prisons for children in Moscow. Boys were held with adults in small, crowded, and smoky cells. Schooling in the prisons for children was sporadic at best, with students of different ages studying together when a teacher could be found."

Document(s): Open document

28.05.2002 - Source: Amnesty International

Amnesty International: Children in custody ("Annual Report 2002: Russia") [#7227],  [ID 11638]

"Children were often held in conditions that amounted to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. Child offenders were particularly vulnerable in a criminal justice system which serves to punish rather than rehabilitate children found to have infringed the criminal law; there was no separate justice system for children. In June, Ministry of Justice officials announced that over 17,000 children were serving prison terms in 64 special colonies for adolescents; 10 colonies had recently opened in former army and Interior Ministry troops' barracks that were transferred to the Ministry of Justice's jurisdiction."

Document(s): Open document
Open document

15.10.2001 - Source: UN Committee Against Torture

UN Committee against Torture: Children in custody ("Consideration of Reports submitted by States Parties under Article 19 of the Convention; Third periodic reports of States parties due in 1996; Addendum; Russian Federation [CAT/C/34/Add.15]") [#37537],  [ID 11637]

"6. The Committee also expresses its concern about the following:

(i) Reports of conditions amounting to inhuman or degrading treatment, of children in institutions or places of detention;"

Document(s): State report
Concluding observations of 6 June 2002 [CAT/C/CR/28/4]