Beatings

URGENT ACTION APPEAL
- From Amnesty International USA

To read the current Urgent Action newsletter, go to
http://www.amnestyusa.org/urgent/newslett.html
----------------------------------
For a print-friendly version of this Urgent Action (PDF):
http://www.amnestyusa.org/actioncenter/actions/uaa34208.pdf

Note: Please write on behalf of this person even though you may not have
received the original UA when issued on December 12, 2008. Thanks!

03 March 2009

Further Information on 342/08 (12 December 2008) and follow-up (10 February 2009) -
Torture/ill-treatment/health concern/non-provision of medical care/intimidation/harassment

RUSSIAN FEDERATION Zubair Isaevich Zubairaev (m), aged about 30

Zubair Zubairaev has again reportedly been severely beaten on both 18 and 24 February 2009.
On a recent visit to the prison, his lawyer saw the marks from the beatings on his face and
has stated that Zubair Zubairaev’s health has been gravely affected. Wounds on his legs
from previous alleged beatings and incidents of torture are not healing and are festering.
He is not receiving adequate medical care. After the most recent incidents he was placed in
an isolation cell as punishment for allegedly possessing a painkilling tablet.

In August 2007 Zubair Zubairaev was sentenced to five years in a high security prison and
sent to prison colony IAR-154/25 in Frolovo, Volgograd region. According to sources close
to Zubair Zubairaev, he was tortured and otherwise ill-treated by prison colony officers
throughout the period he was held there. This included the use of electric shocks. The
sources reported that he was also repeatedly beaten with plastic bottles filled with water,
as well as with truncheons and rifle butts, until he fainted, after which guards revived
him in order to continue the beatings. No medical help was provided and the injuries he
received were not recorded.

After making several complaints about being tortured and ill-treated, Zubair Zubairaev was
transferred to prison colony No 9 in Volgograd. In February 2008 he was admitted to prison
hospital LIU-15 in Volgograd; however, the beatings and other ill-treatment from the prison
officers continued. Zubair Zubairaev complained again about his treatment to the
authorities. This resulted in an inspection of the prison hospital in October 2008 by the
Volgograd regional prosecutor, which, however, found no fault with the prison authorities.

Officials at the prison, as well as an official from the Volgograd Public Prosecutor’s
office, are said to have verbally threatened Zubair Zubairaev that if he does not stop
complaining about his treatment in detention, his prison sentence will be extended or he
might "accidentally" die in prison. They also made threats against his family, saying
"something might happen" to his sisters.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Amnesty International regularly receives reports of torture or other ill-treatment in
places of detention across the Russian Federation, including in prison colonies, and of the
frequent failure of the authorities to investigate effectively such allegations and to
bring those suspected of violations to justice. In February 2007, the UN Committee against
Torture expressed its concern regarding the inadequate health care provided to people in
pre-trial detention centers and prison colonies.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible:
- calling on prison authorities to ensure immediately that Zubair Zubairaev is not
subjected to torture or other ill-treatment, including psychological;
- calling for an immediate, thorough, independent and impartial investigation into the
allegations of torture or other ill-treatment and threats against Zubair Zubairaev and his
family, with the results made public, and for those found responsible to be brought to
justice;
- expressing concern at reports that Zubair Zubairaev is still not receiving the medical
treatment he needs;
- urging that Zubair Zuibairaev is examined by independent doctors and receives all
necessary medical care, in accordance with provisions set out in the UN Standard Minimum
Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners.

APPEALS TO:
Mansvetov Andrei Igorevich
Director of the prison colony IAR-154/15
Uchrezhdenie IAR-154/15
400048 Volgograd
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Fax: 011 7 8442 35 57 00
Salutation: Dear Director

Yurii Ivanovich Kalinin
Director of the Federal Service for Execution of Sentences
Federal Service for Execution of Sentences
Ul. Zhitnaia, 14
119991 GSP-1, Moscow
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Fax: 011 7 495 982 1930
Salutation: Dear Director

Yurii Yakovlevich Chaika
Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation
Office of the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation
Ul. Bolshaia Dmitrovka 15a
125 993 Moscow
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Fax: 011 7 495 692 1725 (fax may be switched off outside of office hours (four hours ahead of GMT)
Salutation: Dear Prosecutor General

COPIES TO:
Vladimir Petrovich Lukin
Ombudsperson for Human Rights of the Russian Federation
Miasnitskaia ul. 47
107084 Moscow
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Fax: 011 7 495 60739 77
Salutation: Dear Ombudsperson

Leonid Leontievich Beliak
Prosecutor of Volgograd region
Pr.Lenina, 8
400066 Volgograd
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Email: pochtaproc@vlpost.ru
Salutation: Dear Prosecutor

Ambassador Sergey I. Kislyak
Embassy of the Russian Federation
2650 Wisconsin Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20007
Fax: 1 202 298 5735
Email: russ-amb@cerfnet.com (Currently unavailable)


PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.
Check with the AIUSA Urgent Action office if sending appeals after 14 April.


----------------------------------
Tip of the Month:
Write as soon as you can. Try to write as close as possible to the date a case is issued.

** POSTAGE RATES **
Within the United States:
$0.27 - Postcards
$0.42 - Letters and Cards (up to 1 oz.)
To Mexico and Canada:
$0.72 - Postcards
$0.72 - Airmail Letters and Cards (up to 1 oz.)
To all other destination countries:
$0.94 - Postcards
$0.94 - Airmail Letters and Cards (up to 1 oz.)

Amnesty International is a worldwide grassroots movement that promotes and defends human
rights.

This Urgent Action may be reposted if kept intact, including contact information and stop
action date (if applicable). Thank you for your help with this appeal.

Urgent Action Network
Amnesty International USA
600 Pennsylvania Ave SE 5th fl
Washington DC 20003
Email: uan@aiusa.org
http://www.amnestyusa.org/urgent/
Phone: 202.544.0200
Fax: 202.675.8566
----------------------------------
END OF URGENT ACTION APPEAL
----------------------------------