Svetlana Isaeva: POC members were not allowed to visit unit "G" of Makhachkala SIZO

On Friday, members of the Public Oversight Commission (POC) of Dagestan were unable to get into the unit "G" of the Makhachkala SIZO No. 1 (pre-trial prison), said Svetlana Isaeva, a human rights defender.

Earlier, Dagestani advocates have reported on violation of prisoners' rights in the unit "G" of the Makhachkala SIZO. On August 19, the advocates intend to hold a press conference with the participation of agents of the law enforcement bodies and discuss the problems of the SIZO-1.

"On August 14, after users of Dagestani social networks began to actively discuss the upcoming press conference, I was contacted by relatives of two SIZO inmates Akhmed Maazov and Akhmed Ismatulaev kept at the unit 'G'," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by Svetlana Isaeva, a member of the POC.

According to Svetlana Isaeva, the relatives have told her that "for two months, advocates cannot visit the SIZO inmates, and there is information that the arrested persons are being beaten." Svetlana Isaeva and Zakir Magomedov, a member of the POC, decided to visit the SIZO and verify the above information; however, the deputy head of the SIZO said that to enter the unit "G", they should have permission from the FSB.

According to the human rights defender, they had no obstacles when they visited other cells.

Under the law, POC members shall have the right to enter all places, where prisoners are kept, emphasized Gasan Aigumov, the Chairman of the Dagestani POC.