Inmates of Nalchik SIZO complain to POC members about beatings

The inmates, who cut themselves in protest against the actions of the staff of the SIZO (pre-trial prison) in Nalchik, told the members of the Republic's Public Oversight Commission (POC) about beatings.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on April 11 relatives of SIZO inmates reported that illegal actions of the staff had triggered a mass hunger strike and attempted suicide among the inmates.

Today, as well as on April 11, SIZO No. 1 of Nalchik was visited by members of POC, officials of the local Ombudsman and members of the Public Chamber of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR).

The POC members could talk to nine inmates, as Zaur Shokuev, a member of the POC of the KBR, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. "Indeed, they had cuts in their arms; some had cuts on the stomach; their wrists were bandaged. The inmates interviewed by us spoke about the unlawful use of physical force to them," said Shokuev.

In her turn, Madina Zobarova, the head of the press service of the Department for the KBR of Federal Penitentiary Service (known as FSIN), said that six inmate refused to take food. "A service check is underway at the SIZO; the materials of the check will be handed over to the Investigating Department for the KBR of the Investigation Committee of the Russian Federation," Zobarova said.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.