A prison guard in Russia’s Far East has received a 2.5 year suspended sentence for failing to report the 2016 beating death of an inmate.
Prison violence has become a hotly debated issue in Russia after a graphic video of several guards beating a prisoner surfaced this month. Russia has since promised the UN that it would prosecute perpetrators of torture in prison and announced plans to launch a nationwide inspection of correctional facilities.
A former guard in the Jewish autonomous region was found guilty of negligence leading to death, the region’s prosecutor’s office said in an online statement Monday.
The unnamed guard witnessed two convicts attacking a third prisoner to death in April 2016, the prosecutor’s office said.
“The defendant didn’t report the incident to leadership… and didn’t take measures to ensure his personal safety. As a result, the two other convicts killed the victim,” the prosecutors said.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
