«The main recommendation to the administrations of the pre-trial detention center of the national security committee of the republic of kazakhstan is to create all conditions for people with disabilities», - Shakhnoza Khasanova, member of the coordinating council of the NPM

In the Republic of Kazakhstan, according to the list of state institutions of the National Security Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan, there are 4 pre-trial detention centers - in the cities of Nur-Sultan, Almaty, Karaganda and Shymkent.

As noted by a member of the Coordinating Council of the NPM Shakhnoza Khasanova, the most important recommendation based on the results of monitoring visits for these institutions is to create all the necessary conditions for people with disabilities who are in them. So, at present there are no technical auxiliary (compensatory) means, as well as special means for the movement of persons with disabilities.

At the same time, Shakhnoza Khasanova stressed that in general, the National Security Service of the Republic of Kazakhstan has carried out a large-scale work to bring the standards of detention in all 4 institutions in line with international standards.

«For example, in Nur-Sultan, the cells of the pre-trial detention center were converted into a double format on the recommendation of the participants. And the area of the chambers today meets national and international standards. The NPM participants recorded that the camera windows do not provide sufficient average inflow of natural light due to their small size. In this regard, the administration has provided additional lighting,» - said Sh. Khasanova.

Speaking about the Almaty institution, the speaker drew attention to the fact that in this detention center there are no doors in the cells in front of the toilets (in the form of Genoa bowls), which humiliates human dignity if there is more than one person in the cell. According to Sh. Khasanova, the management of the institution considered this recommendation. In addition, the NPM participants note that in accordance with the current legislation, the area per person under investigation /convicted in the cell should be at least 2.5 meters, which corresponds to the standard provided for by the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan «On the procedure and conditions of detention of persons in special institutions providing temporary isolation from society.»

The NPM participants note that technically, during the construction of the pre-trial detention facility in Almaty, these standards were not laid down or they simply did not exist yet, as the year of construction of this building was 1936, and therefore it is not possible to put stools in all cells according to the number of persons under investigation/convicted. Considering that the solution of this issue is not within the competence of the administration of the detention facility, it is necessary to build a new building in which all international standards will be laid.

Additionally, Sh. Khasanova stressed the need to introduce a full-time psychologist position in the specified institution.

It should be noted that the situation with medical care in all the above-mentioned pre-trial detention facilities of the Department of the National Security Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan complies with national legislation and international standards for the treatment of prisoners. In each pre-trial detention center of the National Security Service of the Republic of Kazakhstan there is a medical unit where medical assistance is provided by a paramedic.

For instance, there is an equipped medical office in the pre-trial detention center of the Department of the National Security Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Shymkent). As for this institution, the NPM participants drew attention to another point – the need to install a wooden floor in the quarantine chamber.

«This is important, because when the NPM participants visited, it was recorded that the floor in the quarantine chamber is made of concrete and there is no heating in the quarantine chamber. We hope that this recommendation has been considered. And is now in the process of execution. At the next visit, the NPM participants will pay special attention to this. And in other cases, all the recommendations of the administration of this detention center have been fulfilled,» - Sh. Khasanova emphasized.

Speaking about the detention center located in Karaganda, the expert also noted that, like in Almaty, the building here is very old and was built in 1939. At the same time, according to a member of the Coordinating Council of the NPM, repairs are carried out here on an ongoing basis. However, there is another unsolved problem - from year to year the points of the building regulations of the Republic of Kazakhstan 3.02-24-2014 3. «Design of pre-trial detention facilities» are not observed, namely:

- clause 5.4.2.9.3 «A cell for temporary isolation of suspects, accused or convicted persons who have had a nervous breakdown (a cell for isolating violent people) must be provided with artificial lighting (working and duty lighting fixtures), heating and ventilation, as well as a video surveillance camera with a signal output to the operator of the security television system. Chamber equipment is not installed in this room.»

- Clause 5.4.2.9.4 «There is no window opening in the cell for temporary isolation of suspects, accused or convicted persons who have had a nervous breakdown.»

Shakhnoza Khasanova expressed hope for a speedy resolution of this issue, and added that in the institution of Karaganda it is necessary to provide access to sports activities and provide walking yards.

It should be added that the institutional strengthening of NPM in Kazakhstan is carried out with the support of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the United Nations Development Programme (@UNDP Kazakhstan) and other international organizations. The activities of the NPM participants are coordinated by the Commissioner for Human Rights in the Republic of Kazakhstan, Elvira Azimova.

#HumanRights #CitizenRights #AdultRights #NPM #NationalPreventiveMechanism #Kazakhstan #UNDP