"Not a five-star hotel, but not a gloomy prison either": The head of the Ministry of Justice proposed improving conditions in pretrial detention centers.

Konstantin Chuychenko He stated that the guilt of those in pretrial detention has not yet been proven or established by a final court verdict. Therefore, the approach to detention should differ from that established in penal colonies.

"In particular, we could discuss food standards and material and living conditions <…>. Of course, a pretrial detention center can't be turned into a five-star hotel. But it shouldn't be a gloomy prison either." — the Minister of Justice believes, insisting on creating conditions of detention that do not degrade human dignity. According to him, achieving the goals of humanization directly depends on this.

Chuichenko's statement about improved nutrition, however, fails to address the deeper and more important problems of this system. Specifically, torture in pretrial detention centers, which has become the norm for extracting confessions, suppressing the will of future convicts, and creating an atmosphere of fear.

One of the main pillars of the torture system is the virtually complete impunity enjoyed by employees of the Federal Penitentiary Service and other law enforcement agencies. Criminal cases involving violence are extremely rare, and even when they do reach trial, the perpetrators often receive suspended sentences or minimal punishments. 

Independent and critical human rights defenders are being excluded from public monitoring commissions that could help those held in pretrial detention facilities achieve justice.

Another final chord was the denunciation of the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture – it no longer applies in Russia.

NeMoskva recently reported on torture in Russian prisons.