Written question asked by Michael Stern (Conservative), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 20 March 1997. It was answered by Nicholas Bonsor (Conservative) on Thursday, 20 March 1997 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: What assessment he has made of the conditions prevailing in Russian prisons.

Answer: Mr. Stern: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the conditions prevailing in Russian prisons. [21327] Sir Nicholas Bonsor: We have made no separate assessment of the conditions, but follow closely the work of the Russian presidential commission on human rights, the Council of Europe, and NGOs, in this area. On 25 February, Vladimir Kartahkin, head of the presidential commission on human rights launched a report on conditions in Russia's prisons, which found "grave violations . . . and inhuman conditions". On 3 March, the Prosecutor General, Yuri Skuratov, warned of a "social explosion" unless urgent measures were taken. He highlighted overcrowding and the rising incidence of illness, especially tuberculosis,in prisons and remand centres. These assessments are supported by independent human rights NGOs such as Human Rights Watch/Helsinki. A programme for reforming the penal system has been adopted, but the lack of funds is a continual brake on progress.

Secondary information