The “developers” who raped the prisoner with a mop did not repent: “I was just holding the handle”

Six prisoners have been sentenced for beating and raping cellmate Takhirjon Bakiev with a mop in 2021. After the incident, the man began to have health problems. But he was denied parole. In February, the victim committed suicide in the same colony where he was raped. He did not wait for the verdict of his tormentors.

At the trial, the accused did not admit their guilt, did not repent, they only said “sorry.”

Human rights activist Svyatoslav Khromenkov spoke about the behavior of the convicts and the intention of Bakiev’s relatives to demand compensation.

Takhirjon Bakiyev, who was brutally tortured and raped with a mop, did not live to see the verdict against his offenders. The man died in IK-6. The official version is suicide.

Shortly before his death, Bakiyev described his suffering in a letter that he sent to human rights activists: “My spine is damaged, my intestines are torn, there is a colostomy bag on my stomach, my psyche is broken. Help, please, I can’t cope on my own. I don’t want to die here with the wording that “myself.”

Bakiyev’s death did not prevent the court from sentencing six “developers” – this is the name given to convicts who work with the colony administration and act on their instructions. The one who raped was given 7 years in prison, the one who held Bakiyev received 6 years. Those who beat the victim with a shoe received 6-7 years. The prisoner who brought foam to lubricate the handle is 6 years old. The one who brought the mop received 5 years.

Last year, the court found ex-employees of IK-6, including the head of the colony, guilty in the case of torture of Bakiyev.

“The “developers” did not repent at the trial,” says human rights activist Svyatoslav Khromenkov. – They tried to shift the blame onto other prisoners who were witnesses in the case. At the sentencing stage, they only said: I’m sorry. This is not sincere repentance. The man apologizes before the sentence in order to reduce his sentence. We had a case with a police officer who kicked a guy in the stomach. The victim began bleeding internally, his organs were damaged, and he underwent surgery. That PPS nickname really sincerely repented, he didn’t just say “sorry,” but gave some small money to the victim. During the preliminary investigation, he admitted guilt, repented, and did not just want to jump out of prison. He really felt ashamed. Such things are visible. As a result, the victim asked the court not to assign him a real sentence, but to limit himself to a suspended sentence.

Those responsible for the rape of Bakiyev did not realize their guilt, did not understand what they had done. They stood their ground until the very end: it’s not my fault, I just brought a mop, I just held the handle.

– Can they get out on parole?

– I doubt it, although they have the right to parole. Their deadlines have not yet expired, and now new ones will be added to them. To be honest, the convicts are marginal people, they have not taken the path of correction, nothing has changed in their heads. I doubt that the correctional system will change them.

– Will they be sent to serve their sentence in the same Irkutsk colony where they tortured the man?

– Probably yes. Although they can be taken to another place, it is not safe for them to be in the Irkutsk colony.

-Where was Bakiyev buried?

– His sister took the body. She buried her brother in a village near Nizhneudinsk. The woman paid all expenses herself. We announced a fundraiser and managed to collect a very small amount. The woman has a large family, she is raising nine children: four of her own, the rest under the care of the deceased Takhirjon’s sisters and brothers.

– Bakiyev planned to seek compensation from the torturers. We were talking about 9 million rubles. After his death, can his relatives claim payments?

– Why not? According to the law, the sister has the right to be recognized as a civil plaintiff. By the way, Bakiyev never publicly said that he has relatives. I was shy. He wasn’t even invited to us. He considered rape a shame that would fall on his family. Only after his death did we find my sister. She is a great girl, a proper girl of mature age, adequate. He runs his own farm. She says that if she manages to recover compensation, she will fix the fence on her brother’s grave, the money will help her large family.

– What amount of compensation will you demand?

– I think you should ask for a substantial amount, but not exorbitant. Let’s look at the practice in Russia, what amounts were recovered in the event that a person suffered serious harm to health, he received a disability that led to his death. It seems that victims in such cases are asking for several million. This will be adequate compensation. But we will still decide with Bakiyev’s sister on this issue.

– Where will the “developers” get the money from?

– In addition to the “developers”, the head of the colony and operatives were convicted in the case. These people were supposed to ensure the life, health, and safety of prisoners. So there may be claims against the department in which they worked. Well, in any case, some kind of compensation should be demanded from those who carried out the torture. A civil lawsuit is a kind of educational moment. Let these people remember what they did. In addition, if they decide to apply for parole, the court will take into account the moment of payment of compensation.

– Do you think the sentence is fair?

– In my opinion, the sentence is fair. And that’s already good. Severe sentences in such cases give faith in justice…