MOSCOW, August 6 (RAPSI) - Chairman of the Presidential Council for Human Rights Mikhail Fedotov has called to focus more on the problem of social rehabilitation of Russian prisoners.

The statement was made by Fedotov in relation to investigation into prison torture scandal in a Yaroslavl penal colony that resulted in public outcry.

The case of Yevgeny Makarov makes it clear that the penitentiary system devotes little attention to inmates’ resocialization, the Human Rights Council Chair said.

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.

The inmate’s attorney Irina Biryukova, 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.

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.