The visit was carried out by Zdenek HÁJEK, a Czech lawyer (Head of the delegation), Davor STRINOVIC, a Croatian forensic doctor, and Jean-Pierre RESTELLINI, a Swiss specialist in forensic and internal medicine. They were assisted by two members of the CPT’s Secretariat, Trevor STEVENS (Executive Secretary) and Petya NESTOROVA.
The delegation was active throughout the Chechen Republic. In Grozny it visited two of the city’s four Temporary Departments of Internal Affairs. The delegation also went to Bus Depots (PAP) 1 and 5, and visited neighbouring units of the Russian forces (according to reports received by the CPT, the PAP-1 and PAP-5 facilities have been used for detention purposes). In addition, units of the Allied Group of Armed Forces located at the Khankala Base close to Grozny were visited.
The delegation spent a considerable amount of time at SIZO No 2(*) in Chernokozovo, which currently is the main pre-trial detention facility in the Chechen Republic. The delegation reviewed whether the improvements to the situation in this establishment noted during the course of its first visit had been sustained.
The delegation observed that the IVS(**) detention facility located in railway carriages at Chervlyonnaya Station had been withdrawn from service. The conditions of detention in this facility were severely criticised by the delegation at the end of its first visit.
To the south of Grozny, the delegation visited detention facilities in the town of Urus-Martan and, in particular, the Temporary Department of Internal Affairs, located in a former boarding school (internat). The delegation also travelled to the nearby village of Tangi, which until recently had been sealed by Russian forces; it spoke with members of the local administration and other inhabitants of the village.
In the east of the Chechen Republic, the delegation visited detention facilities in Gudermes and Shelkovskaya.
Outside the Chechen Republic, the delegation in particular returned to SIZO No 2 in Pyatigorsk (Stavropol Territory), where it interviewed prisoners who had been transferred to the establishment from Chechnya. Such interviews were also held at the nearby Prison Hospital in Georgievsk.
The delegation also held discussions in Mozdok (North Ossetia-Alania) with senior civilian and military prosecutors responsible for dealing with offences committed in the Chechen Republic.
At the end of its visit, the delegation held consultations with the Russian authorities.
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(*) A SIZO is a pre-trial establishment under the authority of the Ministry of Justice (or the Federal Security Service).
(**) An IVS is a facility for temporary detention under the authority of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
List of places visited by the delegation where persons deprived of their liberty may currently be held:
Chechen Republic
- SIZO No 2, Chernokozovo
- Oktyabrskyi District Temporary Department of Internal Affairs, Grozny
- Zavodskyi District Temporary Department of Internal Affairs, Grozny
- Temporary Department of Internal Affairs, Gudermes
- Unit of the Federal Security Service, Khankala Base of the Allied Group of Armed Forces
- Unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Khankala Base of the Allied Group of Armed Forces
- Temporary Department of Internal Affairs, Shelkovskaya
- Temporary Department of Internal Affairs, Urus-Martan
- Regional Department of Internal Affairs, Urus-Martan
- Department of the Federal Security Service, Urus-Martan
Republic of North Ossetia-Alania
- SIZO of the Federal Security Service in North Ossetia-Alania, Vladikavkaz
Stavropol Territory
- Territory Hospital at Colony No 3, Georgievsk
- SIZO No 2, Pyatigorsk.