"Bitter joy": in the institution of the ES-164/3 DUIS for the North Kazakhstan Region, convicts met with loved ones

An "Open Door Day" was organized in the ES-164/3 medium security institution of the North Kazakhstan region, where the men are serving their sentences. The convicted men had the opportunity to meet with their parents, spouses, brothers, sisters and children.  This day was eagerly awaited by both convicts and close relatives. In total, about 50 relatives from North Kazakhstan, Kostanay, Akmola regions arrived at the institution.

The event was carried out in compliance with all sanitary and anti-epidemic measures, including the availability of immunization, compliance with the mask regime and social distance, as well as the use of the Ashyq project. The requirement for arriving relatives was to have COVID-19 vaccination for the first and second components. Convicts with positive characteristics took part in the Open Day.

- The last time the "Open Day" was held at the ES-164/3 institution was 10 years ago. When we informed the relatives that there would be an "Open Day", they were very happy. Everyone was looking forward to this day. The main purpose of today's event is to preserve socially useful connections of convicts with relatives. Such events give an impetus to the correction and early release of convicts and are of great educational importance. To date, we have also invited members of the Public Monitoring Commission to this event in order to increase the level of transparency of the activities of institutions executing sentences. The plans are to hold such educational events more often, - the head of the DIS for the North Kazakhstan Region, Colonel of Justice Rustan Akhmetzhanov.

The relatives of the convicts asked the head of the institution, Colonel of Justice Valikhan Baytasov and deputies questions of interest and received satisfactory answers.  Then the relatives were given a tour of the detachment where the convicts live and the medical and sanitary part of the institution.

Men behind bars on the eve of the holiday on March 8 prepared a small concert program in order to raise the mood and congratulate their beloved women, and also handed their mothers small gifts made by their hands.

During the meeting in the canteen of the institution, both relatives and the convicts themselves shared their warmth, not hiding tears of joy. 

- My son was convicted of "Theft". Served 2 years, left 1 year. Today I saw the living conditions, the medical and sanitary part, there is a dental office, a fluorography room, the menu is also hanging, I looked, very good, there are all the necessary vitamins. The conditions are good, everything is very clean. I was very glad when I was informed that I could see my child. I came from Kostanay. Very happy. Although my child is 35 years old, it still seems small to me. A mother's heart will ache even if the child is 50 years old, right? I would very much like such events to be held more often," says the mother of the convicted Razia.

This day will remain in the hearts of both mothers and children...