Press Release, 24.11.2015

Yesterday, on 23 November, the State Duma held a meeting of its working group so that to discuss amendments into the law on the use of special equipment in case of disobedience of prisoners, the so-called “sadists’ law”. Andrei Babushkin, YABLOKO Bureau member and member of the Presidential Council for Human Rights, participated in the meeting. The Working Group adopted seven amendments submitted by Babushkin.

The efforts of human rights defenders led to introduction of a provision on immediate medical aid if a prisoner was injured as a result of the use of force. In addition, a medical team must register the injuries.

Also a paragraph stipulating that an employee of the correctional system is not obliged to perform clearly unlawful orders and instructions on the use of coercive measures was added to the law.

The use of gas so that to prevent disobedience to lawful demands of the prison staff is completely ruled out.

Heels were included into a list of parts of the body that should not be hit. A ban on stick strikes was introduced for the convicts over 65 years of age, as well as the use of electric shocker to persons with heart diseases.

Also, prison staff, according to the new version of the law, does not have the right to use weapons for suppression of physical resistance.

The wording of the provision on the application of special means during convoying was changed: they can be applied only when the behavior of the prisoner clearly shows that the convict is going to escape rather than when the behavior has indications that he may escape.

“A lot of things in the law are still alarming. A very important amendment from a group of State Duma deputies who proposed to ban the use of special equipment and weapons, unless registered on video carriers, was rejected. The possibility for the use of batons against persons who show disobedience to the lawful demands of prison’ staff is maintained. The Working Group agreed to further discuss how to deal with these and other dubious norms,” Andrei Babushkin noted.

In early December, by the second reading of the draft law, the Working Group has to submit the amendments for discussion in the State Duma Committee for Security and Anti-Corruption.

“The amendments submitted by Andrei Babushkin once again demonstrate that YABLOKO can influence the most important bills in a much more efficient way than the factions of the State Duma. The fact that we managed to make the law more humane is a great is due to the efforts of Andrei Babushkin. But so far, even in this version the bill is still sadistic, and we will continue to oppose its adoption of this law”, said Sergei Mitrokhin, YABLOKO leader.

On 21 October, YABLOKO activists held a picket by the State Duma against the “sadists’ law” expanding the powers of the Federal Penitentiary Service. YABLOKO Chairman Sergei Mitrokhin also participated in the picketing.