Ukraine: is there any secret prisons?
Security Service of Ukraine again rejected allegations by international human rights organizations about the existence of “secret prisons” in which the Ukrainian secret services secretly hold suspects for separatism.
Head of the SBU chief of staff Alexander Tkachuk said in a television broadcast that reports of human rights defenders on the alleged “secret prison” in Kharkov “does not correspond to reality.” Nevertheless Tkachuk said that the information will be verified by human rights defenders.
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch in a report released Monday a joint letter addressed to the Chief Military Prosecutor of Ukraine said that they have evidence that at least 5 people are still held in secret detention in Kharkiv SBU management. It is alleged that three of them are held in custody for over a year.
According to human rights activists, 13 people, so secretly – without a court order – held by the Security Service of Ukraine earlier, were released after the publication of July 21 report by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, which said about the “secret prisons” of the SBU in the number of Ukrainian cities. As noted by human rights defenders, nor the fact of detention or of the release of these people have not been recognized by the Ukrainian authorities.
Human rights activists have reported about the illegal detentions and arrests of people by the rebels of the Eastern Donbass, t. N. LNR and DNR.
The situation was discussed human rights activists Sergey Kovalev (Moscow), Evgeniy Zaharov (Kiev), Krasimir Yankov (Sofia).
Moderator – Vladimir Kara-Murza, a senior .
Vladimir Kara-Murza, a senior: Today the Security Service of Ukraine again rejected allegations of international human rights defenders of the existence of “secret prisons” in which the Ukrainian special services allegedly secretly hold suspects for separatism. This has already said the activists of Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
And this suspicion, so to say, today we talk of human rights defender and a member of the Moscow Helsinki Group Sergeem Kovalevym, former Human Rights Commissioner in Russia.
Sergei Adamovich, you trust this information, there are a few “secret prisons” in the Kharkiv region, which contains the separatists?
Sergei Kovalyov: Yes, I heard about this. I will be very careful and limited to general judgments. With regard to the facts of the case, it is subject to the investigation. I do not exclude that the Ukrainian service BEZPEKA (SBU), can be also applied the method to a documented set of self-proclaimed republics – Donetsk and Luhansk, and in addition, that for sure, for Ukrainian volunteer battalion “Azov” and “Aydar “. Here there and torture, and hold, and God knows what else, and it is possible to speak with confidence.
As for the Ukrainian State Security Service, I think it’s possible, but it is subject to very serious investigations, very serious inquiries of the Ukrainian authorities. But so far, it seems to me, for most of the examples that I have read, except links to Kharkiv (and Kharkiv – it is not “Aydar” Battalion), it is not very clear. Detainees may believe that their service includes BEZPEKA, but in fact it would be good to Ukrainian military prosecutor (apparently, he promised) investigated the case and made its conclusion.
Anyway, this is a serious accusation Ukrainian state authorities. I think that this accusation it must respond quickly and sharply. Although named battalions me to play mixed, a double role in the history of Ukrainian war. On the one hand, these battalions were the first who gave a rebuff to separatists and on the other hand, there was full of banditry. So, these battalions, as I understand it, the Ukrainian government disbands and is trying to bring to order. And even a case of the arrest of one of the officers of this battalion, apparently, is particularly strong stained banditry. But the “right sector” powerful demonstration defended him from arrest, and he, as I understand, is now under house arrest.
It’s sad, if the government can not restore order. I am afraid that in their security services and Poroshenko, and I’m glad it difficult to put things in proper order. Such is the nature of intelligence agencies, alas, we know it well. And if we remember American life, there Guantanamo. That is, the problem is not only in Ukraine, it is in the world. This is a terrible, dirty problem, it is necessary to go all out to fight. I understand the difficulties faced by the legal services of the Ukrainian state. These difficulties must be overcome. It needs international supervision. What did Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, – it is the right research, and they need to pay attention. I hope that international pressure on the Ukrainian authorities and international assistance will be provided to the accusations in relation to the State Security Service, which seems to have some kind of “secret prisons” and holds detainees there – it must be firmly fixed. And with local teams, which, on the one hand, have played an important role in the military campaign, and on the other – and distinguished gang and torture – that this, too, must be resolutely deal, no matter how “right sector” and so on.
Vladimir Kara-Murza, a senior: We now regard the human rights activist Evgeniy Zaharov, director of the Kharkiv Human Rights Group, a board member of the International Society “Memorial” from the Ukraine.
Eugene E., trusted data to your Western colleagues defenders of the existence of secret prisons?
Evgeniy Zaharov: Yes, I wrote about it many times in Ukraine, but, as we know, there is no prophet in his own country. When I talked about it and wrote it’s just ignored. When told about what Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, the reaction was immediate. They submitted a list of 16 people who are in the Kharkiv regional SBU, right inside, where there is a camera, which can fit a lot of people. Not in the Kharkiv region, namely in the premises of the Kharkiv regional administration of the Security Service. They handed a list of the chief military prosecutor Matios. Two days later, 6 of them were released, then another 7 people were released, and then another 13. That is, in fact, released more than what was on the list.
Now you need to figure out why it happened that people were kept in the SBU unlawfully detained in those places, which were called “secret prisons”. The fact that, in accordance with the Law on the Security Service, in accordance with the law on pre-trial detention of the Security Service has no authority and has no remand or temporary detention. The laws do not require.
There is one semi-legal, so to speak, a temporary detention center in Kiev, which is located at: Askol’dov lane 3. It is open to journalists can pass. The delegation of the Subcommittee of the United Nations to ban torture interrupted his visit to Ukraine in the summer. Because she insisted that she was given access to the “secret prisons” of the SBU, where people are tortured and not given access to her, she broke off the visit and left. After that Prosecutor General Yury Lutsenko and the Commissioner for Human Rights Valeria Lutkovska journalists visited the temporary detention facility of the SBU in the content of the Askold lane. Law it is not provided, it operates in accordance with the regulation. And more than anything, in any way set out in the regulations of the SBU, no prison there. Therefore, the Subcommittee delegation and could not show what is not in the nature.
On the other hand, there are many people that the SBU detained in accordance with the suspects in the crimes that it should investigate. And she did not want them to give to ordinary detention centers, which contain people who have committed crimes, and wanted to have at the most different reasons. So she kept them everywhere could only. I must say that in the regional departments of the Security Service have internal cameras – that’s where they were and kept. This is due to the fact that if all the years of existence of Ukraine there were three cases of “terrorism”, however, all three were very questionable, but now there are hundreds of cases, if you take all of the articles that are associated with “terrorism”. According to the article, which has investigative jurisdiction of the SBU, it has a lot of customers, and keep them nowhere.
А что дальше? Или нужно узаконить какие-то места содержания под стражей и отдать СБУ, тогда это будут законные места, она будет их показывать всем. И для ее клиентов, так сказать, это будет благом, безусловно, поскольку сейчас они не имеют ни возможности обратиться к адвокату, ни воспользоваться правом первого звонка. Все, что происходит в СБУ, совершенно непрозрачно и не соответствует Уголовно-процессуальному кодексу. Если там и появляются адвокаты, то это те адвокаты, которых предлагает именно Служба безопасности, а не по выбору задержанных.
On the other hand, it is not accidental because the laws there are no places of detention SBU detained. After all this was done intentionally. Because of the SBU, as well as special services in your country – a centaur: on the one hand, the security service, which collects the information, on the other hand, the law enforcement agency that has the authority to investigate crimes. This does not exist anywhere in the world.
If we talk seriously about reform of the criminal justice system, the SBU security service should be just, and the right to investigate crimes she needed to pick up and transfer to other law enforcement agencies – the police, the State Bureau of Investigation, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau, and so on. Because otherwise it turns out a very strong overlap when different law enforcement agencies are investigating the same type of crime, and literally fighting each other for ensuring that this is the service it was investigating. This not normal. I believe that it should remain a purely intelligence agency, and all she had jurisdiction to delete and remove it from the investigation of crimes.
Vladimir Kara-Murza, a senior: And who are those 15 people who were held there? 13 of them have already been released. Who are they?
Evgeniy Zaharov: A little bit wrong. Of those 15 remain in custody 5. First 5 that were released – from this list, 7 – in part from the list, and partly those which were not listed. Then released another 13. These are people who are accused of crimes related to terrorism, with the support of terrorism, supporting terrorist organizations. Or the accused under Article 110 of the Criminal Code of “separatism”. Or “treason” – the CSS is there such a “grade” under investigation. There are 109 th article. That is, it is all the crimes that are associated with an armed conflict, which worked against the Ukrainian state. So says the charge.
Our experts have examined the Court’s decision on almost all these items. And I must say that the decisions relating to deprivation of liberty, almost none. That is, all the people of this heavy enough articles only receive a suspended sentence, which, in general, not bad. But they all repent, all cooperating with the investigation.
Vladimir Kara-Murza, a senior: Let’s give the word defender Krasimir Yankov, a human rights investigator in former socialist countries.
Krasimir, we know that you have met with some of the liberated. Who are they?
Krasimir Yankov: In total we caught up with 7 out of 13 that have been recently released, we had a private meeting with 5 of them. They are two types of people. Some of them – it’s completely civilians who, and they do not hide it, ideologically supported the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republic. They may have been involved in preparing or carrying out an unrecognized referendum in 2014. And perhaps they were associated with the DNR, formed when the republic, and gave them information about the movement of Ukrainian troops. And nobody hides. This is one group of people.
They have been subjected to enforced disappearance from their homes. Simply put, they were stolen by masked men, who were not represented, did not say what they want from them. Then they brought in units of the Security Service about the cities where they were taken. For example, the city of Krasnoarmeysk, which is now named Pokrovsky, Kramatorsk city. We have information about similar cases in the city of Mariupol. And out of these people beat a confession, that is, they were threatened, beaten and in some cases, these units of the Security Service – tortured them to write his own testimony that they admit that they helped representatives of DNR and LNR. All this is filmed on camera. And with such a proof of their being prepared for the exchange.
For a variety of reasons, the exchange did not occur. And these people find themselves in a legal vacuum in Kharkov. They did not have any access to the outside world, nor to lawyers or to family. They did not know why they keep there, when they are released, what should happen to them released. And I personally told a few people, when they approached the guards and asked again: “What’s all the same will happen to us,” – he replied: “You simply do not exist you nowhere you officially nobody nothing.. He not accused. On you do not start criminal proceedings. ” And yet these people were in a “secret prison” in Kharkov, their relatives tried to do something on their own, with the help of lawyers, human rights organizations. But when they turned over their kidnapped relatives in the SBU, it stated,
But to characterize the second group of people, I would like to tell the story of Vladimir Bezobrazov, a citizen of Russia, who, according to our information, is still in Kharkov, where there are four more, as of August 2nd. The case of Vladimir Bezobrazov illustrates all this legal nonsense, which sometimes occurs during the exchange of prisoners of war. Vladimir Bezobrazov came with her mother and her daughter in the Odessa region in May 2014. It was just after the events of May 2, when burned in Odessa a lot of pro-Russian supporters. In eastern Ukraine, then the blazing flames of pro-Russian sentiment. The situation was quite tense. Vladimir Bezobrazov was on vacation in the village of Carolino Bugaz.
And somehow, in a cafe, he blurted out about the fact that he supported the pro-Russian militants. In the same cafe were representatives of the Border of Ukraine, the base of which is located in the village of Carolino Bugaz. They arrested him on the spot, although it is not clear what they were authorized to do so. He was taken away on the basis of border guards. There he stayed for two days, and two days later he left beaten, but he admitted that he had allegedly made a special trip to Ukraine from Russia, to participate in the search for pro-Russian militants, separatists, people who fought against the official Ukrainian authorities. After recognizing him immediately charged under Article 110 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine “Encroachment on the territorial integrity of the country.”
When it appeared the official lawyer, he was transferred to the detention center. And with the assistance of a lawyer during the trial he officially renounced his confession. He said that he had been subjected to violence and pressure, so they gave them. And it stalled. And in March 2015 to a lawyer Bezobrazov approached people who identified themselves as negotiators for the exchange of prisoners. They offered a lawyer Bezobrazov deal: if Vladimir again in court confirm his confession, despite the fact that he had previously refused them, the court shall immediately give him a suspended sentence, he would be released in the courtroom, will carry on the exchange. Then he offered to exchange for Ukrainian soldier who was detained by forces of the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic. BEZOBRAZOV and his attorney agreed to this. That is exactly what happened.
When he left the courtroom, to him immediately drove a minibus, and people in camouflage and masks pushed him there and took him away. His family and lawyer thought he showed up a few days in the LC after the exchange. But a few days later they found out that for unknown reasons, the exchange did not take place. This is how Vladimir Bezobrazov was in Kharkov. Then he tried to exchange a few times. In October 2015 the SBU investigators gave him the phone – and he called his mother. He read her prepared a note which stated that the exchange will be no more, let his mother, who lives in Moscow, refers to the representative of the Ombudsman in the so-called DNR to be included in the exchange lists. His mother turned back, but the Human Rights Ombudsman’s Office in the DNI said to her, “Why do we need you to help your son did not do anything for us?. We do not know him. We are interested in the liberation of our soldiers and the people who work for us. “
That is, we are dealing with a person who was detained for pro-Russian views and support in word pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. They tried to imagine a staunch separatist, who allegedly carried out illegal activities on the territory of Ukraine, to be then exchanged for Ukrainian prisoners in the hands of LNR and DNR. As it turned out, the man in what was not involved, he simply expressed his opinion. And to put it, “the exchange coin” in a very dirty game on the exchange of prisoners of war did not succeed. He was in a complete legal vacuum.
Vladimir Kara-Murza, a senior: It turns out that this is some sort of “exchange fund” to release, can be pro-Ukrainian POWs from Russian captivity? I have not heard that they necessarily trying to, but they just keep on the safe side “fire event”.
Sergey Kovalev: And it is not good.
Vladimir Kara-Murza, a senior: Of course, it is wickedness!
Sergey Kovalev: No secret rooms where somebody is held contrary to the procedural rules should not be. It is a fact, it is not necessary to argue with him. I understand the difficult circumstances of the Ukrainian authorities. Here they can not deal with their bandit squads …
Vladimir Kara-Murza, a senior: Polubanditskie.
Sergey Kovalev: Just bandit. Of course, not all men, but a large part of employees of the battalion convicted of robbery, the violence against the civilian population and so on. Nevertheless, the situation in Ukraine is such that with them is quite difficult to understand.
I think it is important that both the international pressure was exerted, and international assistance in order to stop this kind of ugliness. And then at least half, as I understand it, allegations of secret detentions and torture will be eliminated. It seems that there is some progress in resolving the status of these volunteer battalions.
But the intelligence services should not create any “exchange of funds.” It is against the law! There are procedural rules. Evgeniy Zaharov speaks about deeper reform of the security services, that they have to investigate, they should not assume functions of investigation and prosecutorial authorities. Well, this is a serious reform. Now we are talking about a certain practice. I think that both Parliament and the President must commit to conduct a thorough investigation. If for SBU retained a consequence, it should be a pre-trial detention, which have access to lawyers, on the detention of family members should be aware of, as it happened in Soviet times, among other things. I remember it well by his own example.
Vladimir Kara-Murza, a senior: What were the counterparts?
Sergey Kovalev: No torture was not. I had the opportunity to talk with a lawyer who defended me in court.
Vladimir Kara-Murza, a senior: A performance of the Soviet national anthem on the radio at 6 am – is not torture?
Sergey Kovalev: I sat in Lithuania, and I do not remember that there were playing the Soviet anthem. We rise was 7, so the 6:00 radio silent, thank God.
Yes, it was the KGB pretrial detention center of the Lithuanian, but there still remained the natural norm. And no question of torture could not be. And the consequence was monstrous, and the court was monstrous, but formally remained civilized norms. And then created some “exchange fund”. I think that this disorder, and this disorder must be eliminated.
Vladimir Kara-Murza, a senior: Eugene, how do you see a way out of this situation?
Evgeniy Zaharov: Trouble in fact that this disorder born of the Russian Federation, which uses the exchange. Our government and our service want to release all Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians who had been detained. Now they number 138, although more recently it was 108. And the Russian said: “No, first make absolutely amnesty to all who took part in the conflict on the side of the so-called DNR and LNR, and then we’ll deal with the exchange.” But how can you grant amnesty to those who killed without trial, who tortured, raped, abused ?! It is simply impossible. You can not grant amnesty to those who committed serious and heinous crimes. And they say: “If so, then would not the world.”
Unfortunately, Ukraine in this matter depends entirely on Russian policy. As far as I know, these issues are dealt with at the highest level, they are completely monopolized in Russia and Ukraine by special services, nothing about it is not known to the public. Even the Ukrainian ombudsman on this issue was removed, though it has access to secrets. Of course, you need to change all the hostages.
Indeed, we have all this mess is largely due to the fact that we have created so-called “exchange fund”. There are no legal provisions on the basis of which I was captivated by the one and the other side not. Instead, constructed entirely illegal, abhorrent practice, where the exchange is used as an element of political bargaining and pressure. Therefore, the exchange is going very slowly.
Incidentally, traded 3000 15 people, according to official figures. And usually the exchange is as follows: at a Russian prisoner – at least two Ukrainian. That is our “exchange fund” would have to be twice as much. A Security Service and other agencies were looking for those who somehow was involved in the activity of DNR and LNR, they were detained and then changed. But the exchange has stalled badly after Minsk II. Before it was still possible to make an exchange directly – by arrangements warlords, and such exchanges were many. And now even talk about it there.
As a result, the Security Service is forced to carry out enforced disappearances. This is an international crime that is considered serious. And despite the fact that Ukraine joined in June 2015 to the International Convention on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. In this case, it is the Security Service in our country massively implement them without thinking about what she was doing. And this oxymoron goes on and on … And of course, it should be stopped. It’s just an outrage! But she actually had to do this, it forces to this situation, when you need to exchange our prisoners who are still in terrible conditions.
As for those who have found. Where they contain – I can not say. It is clear that these places are not legitimate. Some were in pretrial detention, but when they were signed the agreement on the exchange – and they went out into the wild, they were immediately detained and took away an unknown destination. As it was described in the story of Krasimir Bezobrazov. Where these people are kept up an exchange – I do not know. And what I say – it’s sparse, patchy information that is obtained based on the complaints of relatives of people who did not know where their loved ones are gone, and no connection with them are not. At the same time they are afraid to complain, and none of our clients have not agreed on the fact that we have initiated legal proceedings against the Ukrainian authorities in this regard.
As for the two battalions – “Azov” and “Aydar”. Here the situation is much more complex than is currently Sergei Adamovich. In fact, several dozen volunteer battalions. If I’m not mistaken, they were created to around 42. And seven of these 42 were, indeed, absolutely valid claims that they were engaged in looting, committed war crimes, torture and so on. Half of all those charges – against “Aydar”. But to say that it is all a bandit, is also wrong. He seems to be divided into two parts. This former battalion “Aidar” Melnychuk, who later became a member of parliament, and now it is even deprived of immunity. It was the justification for the list of his criminal acts on 18 pages. And the people who were close to him – his internal security service, the people, who were in the inner prison, who were tortured and abused in “Aydar”. But the bulk of “Aydar” – people who fought, fought for Ukrainian independence, people are decent, moral. I personally know very much, and would like to see the entire “Aydar” accused.
Sergey Kovalev: I’m all, “Aydar” and not branded.
Vladimir Kara-Murza, a senior: Yes, with reservations, of course.
Krasimir, and at what level to decide whether to exchange the hostages?
Krasimir Yankov: I think that in the process of exchange of prisoners “all for all” a lot of questions. It is unclear how many people have found the one and the other. There are numbers that are called, but some figures – from the Ukrainian side, the other figures – from the pro-Russian militants. In addition, like being negotiated at the central level in Minsk, but there is a center for the exchange of prisoners at the SBU, which operates in Kyiv, where can contact relatives of people who were detained or abducted by representatives of the separatists. These people added to the list. They are also free to contact people who contributed to their relatives on the lists from the DNR and LNR. So the process is not adjusted, there are no clear figures and clear standards, criteria, how it all happens.
Vladimir Kara-Murza, a senior: Krasimir, and you have now any list? You can read it?
Krasimir Yankov:According to those people recently released from Kharkov, we know that there were five people. Three of them – the citizens of Ukraine, two – from Kharkov, and two – the Russians. The name of one of the Russian citizens – Vladimir Bezobrazov. But this list is current as of August 2, when released last people we know. And some of them told us that they had allegedly heard that this “secret prison” are trying to completely eliminate – to make repairs, to remake it under any offices, or something like that. Perhaps this is due to the fact that on September 5, Ukraine returns the UN Committee Against Torture, which cut short his visit in May. Perhaps it is timed to this date, and people have moved somewhere. But we know that attempts to hide this practice, these people from independent observers were in the past. So we can not rule out
Vladimir Kara-Murza, a senior: And is there in Russia such as the prison?
Sergey Kovalev: I do not exclude it. I can tell about the past of the Russian Federation. In the 93 th year, I visited the North Korean prison in Russia, lumberjacks, forest concessions in the Far East, the Khabarovsk Territory, where North Korea hands of their workers chopping wood. So, the guilty are held in a small prison. If there were serious charges, such as an attempt to escape, and the North Korean workers tried to escape to Russia, because it is bad to live in North Korea …
Vladimir Kara-Murza, a senior: It was not until the 93rd year of the October events?
Sergey Kovalev:Yes. I then spoke with the prosecutor of the Khabarovsk Territory, and it was an amazing conversation. I witnessed this prison, it is true, then there was no one, because they knew that a delegation will arrive. I spoke at a meeting in Geneva of the UN Committee on the existence of such prisons. So I visited her. And that’s what I said in Khabarovsk prosecutor: “You have in fact no documentary evidence that the holding where the guilty prison workers have hold you just know by the testimony.”. And the heads of the concession show us this room. I think there was no one there by chance – it was made for our arrival. And I said to the prosecutor: “It is you – the public prosecutor of the Khabarovsk Territory, this you must collect evidence I who is not me you should present evidence.?
Vladimir Kara-Murza, a senior: And should the power of modern Ukraine to cooperate with the experts Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch?
Sergey Kovalev: Of course, it must cooperate with human rights organizations, international organizations. After all, as I understand it, and UN representatives were trying to take part in the investigation of these cases. And it would be in the interests of Ukraine. I understand the difficulties of the Ukrainian authorities. When people are forced to go to the Maidan, that then sticks to it by anyone, and the “anyone” beginning to assert their rights. But the power still has to be the power and rule of law would be paid off.
And I would like to say two words Evgeniyu Zaharovu. I did not say that the battalion “Aidar” (maybe I carelessly put it) does not have the military merit. I know that he fought valiantly and carried significant losses. Only I know that in addition to this there were some people that no one pulled up to the last time. Right now, it seems, with this any proceedings go. Who robbed, raped, tortured and otherwise misbehave. That, alas, is the fruit of a situation in which Russia has landed Ukraine.
And about the “exchange fund”. If we need to have “exchange fund” keep stock of “exchange fund”, for example, under house arrest. Let them wait in line is not in prison. You can also explain to them why they are held so that they were waiting for conditions in human metabolism, to enable them to communicate with family and so on.
Vladimir Kara-Murza, a senior: A capable if the new Ukrainian authorities to enter into cooperation with Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch?
Evgeniy Zaharov: It can, and in fact have already entered, when, after a joint report launched to liberate the people. This is the sign that they have begun to cooperate.
Совершенно согласен с Сергеем Адамовичем, что нужно абсолютно иначе содержать тех людей, которых собираются менять. Потому что то, что делается, – это за пределами права, это просто безобразие.
As for the “Aydar”. More than a year ago, it changed direction, there is no longer the previous management. Chief of Staff, “Aydar” arrested. And many of those who committed crimes, are now in custody. Those who killed, robbed, looting, pursued legally. Moreover, the persecuted, and those who have nothing to do with these crimes had not, I would say. I’m aware of the whole story, because I had to defend the people who terrorized “Aydar”. On the other hand, had to defend “aydarovtsev”, which illegally, unjustly persecuted. That is, the situation is complicated. But in general, our volunteers deserve a separate discussion. And I think that even if Sergei Adamovich has a fairly complete picture of the situation, while in Russia it is probably
And another very important thing. Indeed, earlier in the SBU was not tortured. And after the conflict all the time received reports of torture. And in the official report of our Commissioner for Human Rights, the Ombudsman Lutkovska last year said that the greatest number of complaints of torture in 2015, is addressed to the Security Service and not the police. For the first time there is a situation. And all this is happening at full closure. Because they did not comply with the Code of Criminal Procedure with regard to those people who are detained. And all this is under such brand that “the enemies of the separatists, terrorists and so on.” Although on many occasions, I can say that it is not.
Vladimir Kara-Murza, a senior: Krasimir and how soon you might be ready a list of illegally detained? And as soon as they can find freedom?
Krasimir Yankov: list of five people, of whom I said, we passed last week, 23 August, Mr. Matios, SBU and the presidential administration. And we hope that, just as with the previous list that we presented at the end of July, these people will be released. And if there are good against them charges, they will be transferred to the legal, the legal system, they have access to lawyers, their families and so on.
The fact that Ukrainian authorities release people after the statement of our organization Human Rights Watch, – we welcome this step. But so far no one has officially said it is not. SBU officially denies that this practice is taking place. Well, a complete failure to consider the possibility that this was the territory of the Security Service of Ukraine in Kharkov and other places of illegal content. This is not just a violation of human rights. Someday the war in the east of Ukraine is over, and these people – who had been tortured and who tortured – will eventually live together. And until such time as all of these cases are not investigated, will not be transparent in what was happening, reconciliation will not happen. People will have to learn again to live with each other. And what is now Ukrainian authorities refuse to initiate our statement,
The fact that some cases investigated in the battalion – it’s very good. But we see what happens when it comes to trial. We see that people who have committed very serious crimes, released on bail.
Vladimir Kara-Murza, a senior: And how flawless position SBU deny everything? Maybe she should recognize the existence of these prisons?
Sergey Kovalev: The position of the SBU, in my opinion, more than faulty, it is simply disgusting. And I think that the important task of Ukrainian state power – to put an end to such incidents. It takes a serious public investigation and to ensure that people who need to keep under investigation or in custody, have been provided with all conditions, legal aid, good counsel and contact with their families. Those held for future exchange, can not be kept in prison.
Vladimir Kara-Murza, a senior: We believe the existence of “secret prisons” in fact proved right?
Sergey Kovalev: Requires a serious investigation on the state level. Indeed, it may be true that some service arbitrariness. And if so, they should be punished. If it is agreed with the central office of Bezpeka Service, it must be prevented lawful order and quite openly.
Vladimir Kara-Murza, a senior: I also think that this is a serious stain on the reputation of the new Ukraine – the existence of “secret prisons”. And we will very carefully for this to follow.
Sergey Kovalev: Maybe, a significant part of this investigation will wash away the stain.
Sourse, 29/08/2016
