Head, inspector of colony in Olenivka served suspicion notices in absentia

Citizens of Ukraine who, while serving as the head and inspector of the colony in Olenivka, used physical, psychological and sexual violence against at least 100 servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, were served suspicion notices in absentia.

That's according to the Prosecutor General's Office, Ukrinform reports.

Under the procedural guidance of the Prosecutor General's Office, citizens of Ukraine who held positions in the so-called "State Budgetary Institution Volnovakha Correctional Colony of the State Penitentiary Service of the Ministry of Justice of the DPR" were served with a notice of suspicion of violating the laws and customs of war (Part 2 of Article 28, Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

According to the investigation, the head of the so-called Volnovakha Correctional Colony in Olenivka and his subordinate staff, including a junior inspector of the Supervision and Security Department, ill-treated Ukrainian prisoners of war in violation of international humanitarian law. This often began immediately after the prisoner's arrival at the place of detention.

The head of the institution gave orders to escort and guard the persons held on the territory of the colony, in particular, to place them in the so-called "Disciplinary isolator". The colony employees systematically ill-treated the POWs there.

They used physical, psychological and sexual violence against at least 100 AFU servicemen. The purpose of these actions was to systematically humiliate and insult the prisoners for their participation in deterring the armed aggression against Ukraine. 

The issue of putting the suspects on the wanted list and applying to the court for permission to conduct a special pre-trial investigation is being decided.

The pre-trial investigation is being conducted by investigators of the SSU Main Investigation Department. The joint investigative team included officers of the Department for Documentation of Crimes Committed in the Context of Armed Conflict of the Main Department of the National Police of Ukraine.

As Ukrinform reported, a member of the Storm special forces who stormed Bakhmut was sentenced to 15 years in prison.