MOSCOW, April 2 (RAPSI) – The Justice Ministry of Russia has proposed to vest ombudsmen with a power to receive convicts personally in colonies. The relevant draft order has been published on the official website of draft laws and regulations.

According to the Justice Ministry, such an authority would be granted to Russia’s High Commissioner for Human Rights, children’s rights commissioner, business ombudsman and respective regional commissioners.

Currently, only prison administration, chiefs of the territorial penitentiary system bodies, Russia’s penitentiary service, prosecutor’s office and government bodies, and members of public monitoring committees may personally receive inmates in colonies and prisons.

Russia’s ombudsman Tatiana Moskalkova has supported the initiative.