Not everyone is in Openwork – Newspaper Kommersant No. 229 (7430) of 12/09/2022

The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) will no longer use the Azhur system shackles when transporting accused women and minors, as well as those accused of non-violent crimes, to courts. The corresponding instruction has already been sent to the territorial bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Irina Volk, the press secretary of the department, told Kommersant. The day before, a member of the Presidential Council for Human Rights (HRC), Eva Merkacheva, complained to Vladimir Putin about the use of shackles on women, minors and those accused under “non-violent” articles. Less than a day passed from the moment of her report to the president until the appearance of the “instruction” of the Ministry of Internal Affairs; Ms. Merkacheva calls it a “lightning victory” for human rights activists.

In 2022, members of the HRC and the PMC of Moscow (a commission that inspects pre-trial detention centers and colonies) received several complaints about the transportation of people from pre-trial detention centers to courts in shackles. “We received such messages from Moscow and Samara,” said Eva Merkacheva, a member of the Human Rights Council on Thursday, who was also a member of the POC of Moscow until October. “In Moscow, a woman accused of an economic crime, a professor, told me personally about transportation in shackles. Why she had to be put in shackles is unclear.” Video footage of the actions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed that shackles fastened with a chain were put on hands and feet. “When we started to sort it out, it turned out that the shackles meant the “Azhur” tool. From the department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Samara region, we were told that the use of “Azhur” is legal and is used to escort prisoners,” said Ms. Merkacheva.

Note that “Azhur” is a special type of “means of restricting mobility”, which can be attached simultaneously to the arms and legs. It is listed in the arsenal of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the National Guard and the Ministry of Defense.

Eva Merkacheva told Kommersant that she has a letter from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, in which the central office of the department recommends that regional departments use the Azhur as a means of escorting suspects and defendants.

“The Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that more than 20,000 such funds were purchased in 2022,” she said. However, in open sources, the purchase of such a volume in 2022 was not announced.

Georgy Ivanov, a lawyer from the human rights association Team Against Torture (also a member of the PMC of Moscow until October this year), points out that the use of shackles is prohibited by the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners. “They are considered as treatment that degrades human dignity,” the expert explained.

Mrs. Merkacheva told Vladimir Putin about the “medieval” use of shackles on Wednesday at the annual meeting of the president with members of the Human Rights Council. She pointed out that women and minors, as well as those accused of non-violent crimes, “mainly economic” are transported in shackles.

“I don’t even know how to qualify this,” Vladimir Putin admitted. “I promise that attention will not only be drawn to this, but we will ensure that this practice is definitely stopped.”

“I didn’t have time to leave the meeting room, I got a call from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. And, as in a joke, they began to ask in surprise: “Does anyone really use shackles?” – Eva Merkacheva told Kommersant. – As a result, they checked everything and today they announced their decision. They responded with lightning speed, this is a victory for human rights activists.”

The Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed to Kommersant the words of Mrs. Merkacheva. “Currently, departmental regulations provide for a differentiated approach to the use of special means, including depending on the degree of public danger of the escorted persons,” said Interior Ministry spokeswoman Irina Volk. An instruction with a detailed explanation of the established requirements was sent to the territorial bodies of the department in Russia. In particular, the use of “Azhur” is now prohibited “in relation to women, minors and persons suspected and accused of committing economic crimes,” Ms. Volk assured.

Maria Starikova