Dear Mr./ Mrs
I am sorry to extending invitations for the conference shortly before its beginning. I
trust you understand the reason of this delay: since March political crisis in Russia is
growing with a gathering force. In August, financial and political crisis added. So far,
it’s quite hard to forecast the outcome of all these crisises. Under these circumstances
we had to postpone the conference for one month (it had been to be held 13th-15th
of November). Financial crisis dealt a heavy blow on Russian NGO as well, especially in
the regions. Our Center (MCPR) had certain losses too, but
we are doing our best to ensure that the conference be held, as its results may be very
important to prevent disaster of prison system.
Let me provide a few figures so that you could understand how desperate the situation
really is. In May, the federal budget ration expenses per one prisoner were cut from 225
rubles ($38) to 142 rubles ($24) and 22 rubles ($1,1-1,8) in August, I want to stress once
again, that it’s monthly expenses per one prisoner. In Russia one can presently buy for
this money 1 kg of sugar or 2 kg of flour or 8 loafs of black bread. Even under the most
favorable conditions, one can hardly expect that expenses on prisoners may increase until
the end of this year.
There is only one way out of this disastrous situation: to make considerable reduction
of prisoners and carry out radical reforms. Although we are tired of believing that such
reforms are possible, changes taking places in 1998 encourage us greatly. In September,
the process of placing the penitentiary system out of the Ministry of Interior under the
Ministry of Justice was over. As far back as six months ago, many people including me felt
highly skeptical about the transformations. But in late August, I met with new deputy
Minister of Justice and we talked much. To my satisfaction, these talks drove all doubts
from my mind. Since late July this post has been held by Yuri
Kalinin (PRI member) who had been in charge of the
general prison department and was sent in resignation a year ago. Yuri
Kalinin set out his plan that appeared similar by many points to the programme
developed by MCPR a few years ago. As its strategic
direction, this plan envisages considerable reductions of prisoners, setting up probation
service and other radical improvements. Kalinin’s staff has
developed the of Decree of indemnity draft (which is due to go to the State Duma in late
September), that in some relations is more radical than our proposals. Should it be
endorsed by the deputies, more than one hundred thousand prisoners will be released from
prisons and colonies (some 300 thousands by other
estimates). By Yuri Kalinin’s initiative, other legislative
drafts will go to the State Duma, which would make considerable reductions of SIZO prisoners should they be endorsed. By our estimates,
implementation of these and other proposals within two or three years to come would
decrease relative number of prisoners to 300-350 per 100 thousands of population (this
index is now 700). It should be noted that the number of prisoners is already decreasing
(especially juvenile delinquents).
Yuri Kalinin asked me to provide support from Russian and
Western NGO and mass media, because it is quite obvious that the Decree draft will be
opposed by many MPs, executive power structures and most of media. I’ve drawn up this
support plan. There have been two radio programs with Kalinin’s
participation. In the near time we’ll try to arrange meeting between Kalinin and the leading NGO representatives, politicians, public
characters and journalists in Sakharov Centre(NGO’s). I hope that the Minister of
Justice Pavel Krashennikov and Yuri Kalinin will still hold
their positions in the government (it will be clear within the next week). The conference
and other events that we are planning to hold between 7th and 20th
of December can provide strong support to reformists from the Ministry of Justice. More
detailed plan of these events will be provided in the nearest time. No doubt, they will be
very significant in the matter of support of the present reformats and solution of one of
the most serious problems of today’s Russia. We’ll be happy to answer your possible
questions.
Director of the Center Human Rights
Chamber at the Political Advisory Council under the President of Russia
V. Abramkin
