The main objective of the visit was to review the measures taken by the Estonian authorities in response to the recommendations made by the Committee after previous visits. In this connection, particular attention was paid to the treatment and conditions of detention of persons in police custody and penitentiary establishments, especially to persons placed in solitary confinement. The delegation also examined the treatment, conditions and legal safeguards offered to civil involuntary and forensic psychiatric patients. Further, the delegation examined the treatment of foreign nationals detained pursuant to aliens legislation and of military servicemen placed in disciplinary detention.
In the course of the visit, the delegation had consultations with Kalle Laanet, Minister of Justice, Riina Sikkut, Minister of Health and Labour, and other senior officials from the two aforementioned Ministries and the Ministries of the Interior and Defence. The delegation also met Olari Koppel, Deputy Chancellor of Justice, and staff of the Inspection Visits Department of the Office of the Chancellor of Justice (performing the functions of National Preventive Mechanism established under the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture). Further, a meeting was held with representatives of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and of the Estonian Human Rights Centre.
At the end of the visit, the delegation presented its preliminary observations to the Estonian authorities.
The visit was carried out by the following members of the CPT:
- Jari Pirjola (Head of delegation)
- Vincent Delbos
- Anna Jonsson Cornell
- Sebastian Ładoś
- Alexander Minchev
- Aleksandar Tomcuk.
They were supported by Borys Wódz (Head of Division) and Paolo Lobba of the CPT’s Secretariat, and assisted by an expert, Eric Durand, former Head of the Medical Services at Fleury-Mérogis Prison, France.
The delegation visited the following places of deprivation of liberty:
Establishments under the Ministry of the Interior
- Tallinn Detention House
- Kuressaare Detention House
- Narva Police Station
- Tallinn-East Police Station
- Tallinn Sobering-up Centre
- Tartu Police Station
- Viljandi Police Station
- Võru Police Station
- Tallinn Immigration Detention Centre
- Luhamaa Border Post
- Narva Border Post
Establishments under the Ministry of Justice
- Tallinn Prison
- Tartu Prison
- Viru Prison
Establishments under the Ministry of Social Affairs
- Ahtme Psychiatric Hospital
- Forensic Psychiatric Department of Viljandi Hospital
- Psychiatric Department of Kuressaare Hospital
- Psychiatric Clinic of Northern Estonian Medical Centre, Tallinn
Establishments under the Ministry of Defence
- Kuperjanov Infantry Battalion, Taara Army Base, Võru.