Surveillance of human rights defenders for human rights in places of deprivation of liberty has become the most effective form of public control, members of public monitoring commissions (PMCS) on the basis of the Federal law can visit places of deprivation of liberty. But by the summer of PMCS may lose more than half of the most active supervisors. And they can come former prison wardens. What is the reason and how to solve the problem, “Izvestiya” told the head of the Commission of the Council under the RF President on development of civil society and human rights, the public monitoring Commission of Moscow Andrei Babushkin.
— The powers of the PMC members is three years and not more than three terms. For many of them, the more experienced, this limit will be exhausted by summer. The system POC is waiting for the collapse?
With 60% of the most active members of the PMCS soon end term limits. In this regard, the Council under the RF President on development of civil society and human rights (SPCH) has proposed an amendment to repeal the term limits of office.
— How likely is the adoption of this amendment prior to the formation of new PMCS?
— In the state Duma established a working group, its composition is three representatives of the HRC. From the Public chamber and the State Duma we find understanding and support. And I hope that the amendment will be supported and adopted at the spring session of the state Duma, and by the summer, at the time of formation of PMC in 45 constituent entities of the Russian Federation, it shall come into force.
— Among the PMC members appeared former employees of the penal system. And a number of human rights defenders is alarming.
— Of course, there are examples when the heads of former colonies are headed by the PMCS and the PMCS goes wrong, as in the Vologda region.
In the Chelyabinsk region during the mass unrest in a colony of Kopeisk in 2012, the head of the PMC was a former employee criminally-Executive system. He really tried to block a public inquiry into the events in Kopeisk, but he failed.
In the Vologda area, the Chairman of the UPC — a former head of the colony for the “life convicts”. About it very well respond as the head of the colony, but, as the leader of the UPC, it did not show themselves in a positive way.
But former employees of the penal correction system anywhere not the majority, they are all part of POC is less than 10%. More often obstructed the work of the POC people who are not associated with the penal system. There are times when trying to block the work of human rights defenders, as it happens in the Belgorod region. There is only one human rights activist — member of the PMC cannot find a mate (PMC members can visit places of detention in pairs only. — “Izvestia”).
— Who influences the formation of the PMCS?
The PMC generates the Public chamber. But OP is not always possible to thoroughly investigate the candidates, they are not always sufficiently balanced decisions. It happens that well-established people just can’t get into the PMCS.
— Some of your colleagues-human rights activists have proposed to transfer responsibility for the formation of POC from the Public chamber of the Commissioner for human rights. How do you feel about this idea?
— It is premature. The public chamber should be given a chance. I think now they will start to listen to us. But if among the PMC members will again be people, the main merit of which is loyalty to the government, the ability not to make sharp statements and to get sharp corners, we will raise the question of changing the procedure for the formation of the PMCS. And, maybe, send this procedure to the Commissioner for human rights or the joint Commission consisting of the Commissioner, the Public chamber and the HRC.
— Are there many “combat” UPC, where are the sharp reports?
— About one-third. This is the UPC of Moscow, the UPC of the Moscow region, Altai, Zabaykalsky Krai, Komi, Irkutsk, Murmansk and Nizhny Novgorod regions. Dagestan and Ingushetia should be noted, they have difficult conditions, of course.
But there are the PMCS, where the concealment of faults, allowed by the officers of subordinate bodies. It was a hard situation in the Orenburg region, where the KIO Chairman did not allow the defenders in a correctional facility for almost a year. There left at the head of the HRC Mikhail Fedotov. We found a common language, they were not evil, they just acted from a false understanding of state interests. Today, this POC works very well.
