Press release, 27.01.2017

The Investigative Committee’s branch in the Republic of Karelia responded to the inquiry of Lev Shglosberg, deputy of the Pskov Region Legislative Assembly (YABLOKO’s faction), demanding to investigate the information on violence, including tortures and murder threats, against dissident Ildar Dadin by the staff and administration of the Prison Colony No. 7 in the town of Segezha [near the Finnish border]. The information on the use of violance against Ildar Dadin was published in the mass media.

Deputy Lev Shlosberg addressed an inquiry demanding to conduct an investigation to Alexander Bastrykin, Head of the Investigative Committee, on November 15, 2016. Russia’s Investigative Committee forwarded the inquiry to their branch in the Republic of Karelia.

The response to the inquiry signed by Artur Klimuk, head of the procedural controls department of the Investigative Committee in the Republic of Karelia, says that an investigation was launched in connection with the information on the use of violence against Ildar Dadin.

The Investigative Committee’s branch in the Republic of Karelia claims that all the circumstances of case were checked thoroughly and no evidence of offences against Ildar Dadin committed by the prison administration staff was found. Therefore, the Investigative Committee refused to initiate criminal proceedings.

On December 5, 2016, Ildar Dadin was transferred from the Segezha colony to a colony in the Altai Region in order “to ensure his safety”, according to the official line. His relatives were informed about his location only on January 8, 2017. Dadin applied for transfer back to the colony in Segezha. According to Dadin, after he had complained about about violence in the colony, the abuse of prisoners was stopped. His presence in the colony ensures respect for the rights of other inmates.

Ildar Dadin was the first to be convicted under a new Russian law criminalizing “repeated violations of protest laws.” He was sentenced to two and a half years in jail.