Relatives of North-Caucasian natives imprisoned in Mordovia claim prisoners are subjected to oppressions

Imprisoned natives of Northern Caucasus, who are serving their sentences in the penal colony No. 7 of the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service (known as FSIN) Department for the Republic of Mordovia, complain about oppressions on a national basis committed by the administration of the penitentiary institution. This was reported by relatives of the prisoners. According to them, some prisoners went on hunger strike to protest against the situation, and in that state, they were driven away to some unknown destination.

"From the very beginning, when my brother was sent to serve his sentence to the penal colony, he began to report through his advocate about what was happening there. Prisoners reported on the facts of insults and physical abuse committed by prison staff members," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by Arthur S., a brother of one of the prisoners.

"They also complain about the fact that in case of illness, Caucasians prisoners do not receive any medical treatment in the medical unit," Arthur has notes.

According to him, in early 2014, more than 20 prisoners have filed complaints against staff members of the penal colony to the local Prosecutor's Office to supervise law observance in penitentiary institutions. After that, it became known that five prisoners were driven away from the penal colony to some unknown destination. "Those people were on hunger strike to protest against the situation. Till present, their whereabouts are still not known," the man has said.

The administration of the very penal colony has refused to comment to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent on the situation with the prisoners' complaints against staff members of the penal colony.