Checks in jails of Saratov Region turn into pressure on Caucasian natives

The penitentiary system has reacted to the scandal about torture of inmates at the Saratov prison hospital, among whom there were natives of the Caucasus; the reaction means that now victims of torture are persuaded not to write complaints, and are place into dungeon (punishment cell) for minor reasons. Those caught by the video have been accused of beatings and rapes and sent to the SIZO (pre-trial prison), but their helpers are still at the hospital, the "Novaya Gazeta" informs.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the video showing the torture of natives of Chechnya, Dagestan, Georgia and Azerbaijan was posted by the human rights project "Gulagu.net". A former prisoner, a native of Dagestan, and a brother of a prisoner, a native of Azerbaijan, said that convicts were placed into the prison hospital not because of their health problems, but as punishment for misconduct and disobedience.

In 2013, Erik Arzoev* (the name is changed for ethical reasons), a native of Azerbaijan, reported bullying at the Saratov prison hospital. Later, he again ended up in jail, where he was a mediator of convicts with the administration.

Kamran Arzoev, Erik's brother, said that in April 2020, Erik was tortured for several days – he was beaten up, placed under a cold shower; his arms and legs were wrung, and "they did terrible things to deprive him of his own dignity until he cut up his stomach."

"My brother fought against torture in colonies; he could not tolerate humiliation of prisoners; and he managed to establish some order. He was sent there (to the prison hospital) to be punished," Kamran has added.

In 2016, Ilyas Dadakhaev, a native of Chechnya, died in the prison hospital. His relatives found it out by chance. There were bruises on his body, the "Chechnya Today" wrote. Dadakhaev was convicted of robbery in the Saratov Region and participation in bandit formations in Chechnya.