MOSCOW, August 3 (RAPSI) – Russian Prosecutor General Yury Chaika has ordered inspection of all facilities managed by the Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) after revelations concerning violation of constitutional rights in prisons and embezzlement of funds allocated to modernization of the system.

The order was announced at the meeting concerning summation of the Prosecutor General’s Office’s work in the first half of 2018.

In particular, the Prosecutor General ordered to review complaints filed by inmates and review documents dismissing the launch of criminal cases against prison employees. If any violations are found, criminal cases are to be launched against officials responsible. Chaika also called for taking measures against investigators and prosecutors responsible for unlawful provisions.

The statement of the Prosecutor General follows prison torture scandal in a Yaroslavl penal colony that resulted in public outcry.

On August 2, the Investigative Committee of Russia brought charges against 12 employees of the Yaroslavl Penal Colony One as part of the criminal case over beating and torture of an inmate.

Names of the defendants are: Maksim Yablokov, Igor Bogdanov, Ruslan Tsvetkov, Aleksey Brovkin, Dmitry Solovyov, Sergey Drachev, Ivan Kalashnikov, Sergey Yefremov, Alexander Morozov, Andrey Zybin, Aleksey Andreyev and Aleksey Mikityuk.

The case is classified as abuse of office involving use of violence, which is being investigated by the main directorate of the Investigative Committee. The crime may be punished by a prison term of up to 10 years.

Earlier, Novaya Gazeta newspaper published a video showing an inmate being tortured by some persons wearing grey camouflage uniforms. Later, it was revealed that the victim in the video had been identified as Yevgeny Makarov, who is serving his term in the Yaroslavl penal colony. The video was filmed by one of the staff members according to lawyers representing Makarov.

Irina Biryukova, the inmate’s attorney, who handed the footage to the media, has asked the Federal Chamber of Attorneys to ensure her safety because of threats from the prison staff. She also announced that she was leaving Russia.

The Chairman of the Presidential Council for Human Rights Mikhail Fedotov visited the penal colony on July 23. The Council filed its reports to the Investigative Committee and the General Prosecutor’s Office.