Sannikov sent to colony with harshest regime

The administration of the remand prison of the Interior Affairs Ministry has informed that the presidential candidate is sent to Navapolatsk colony #10.

“It is common knowledge that this colony is situated in the place which is very bad from the ecological point of view: it is surrounded by chemical plants. Previously political prisoners have never been sent there. And now, apparently, it is another instrument of pressure on Andrei, an attempt to crack him up in the colony, while such attempts had failed in the remand prison. We know that Mikita Likhavid is already staying in this colony, and he had been placed to the inmate discipline unit twice already, just for being a political prisoner. Families of former prisoners, who had served sentences there, say that Navapolatsk colony is the most awful place also from the point of view of prison abuses. I do not mean total lawlessness. I rather mean blind following the regulations, the rules and so on. Prisoners are reprimanded for smallest violation, for being late for 30 seconds for instance, which gives an outside chance for early release,” charter97.org website has been informed by Andrei Sannikov’s wife.

And here is some information at the special website about Navapolatsk colony from former prisoners and their relatives:

“This penal colony is considered a model one as far as correctional reeducation is concerned, officers from other colonies visit it to adopt experience. So it is difficult to change it. Its own laws exist in such places, and when one does not agree, it is recorded as a violation…”

“Another thing – a violation of rules for any little thing is recorded easily. Unfortunately, too few prisoners there are without violations there… when one is late for a minute – a violation is recorded. It is a “model colony” – there is nothing to add…”

“And what concerns phone calls – the reason is the same: the regime is harsh. In order to allow making a phone call, the supervisor of the prisoner’s party should attentively study each prisoner, whether he deserves it or not (and he has 90 prisoners there)…”

“Early release is hardly possible there, as infringements of the rules are recorded for any little violation. One should keep a low profile, so to say. Secondly – even when one has to pay a little sum (even the money not related to the case, just living costs), a commission fee is collected. No one cares that the prisoner should not pay any sum under the claim. However, it could be the same in all colonies. The difference is, in the 10th colony procrastination of all commissions is immense, they do not really want to release anyone much.”

“Guards can come and send you to a punishment isolation cell for 15 days for being unshaven (though you could have shaved 10 minutes ago). And when one keeps head down, the administration closes eyes to all little things.”