Improving conditions in the new prison will help prevent the return of convicts to the underworld

 23 November 2023, 7:00 

The news agency Turan

On the eve of the professional holiday of the justice authorities of Azerbaijan, on November 17, a new prison for especially dangerous criminals, which has been under construction for many years, opened in the village of Umbaki (40 km south of Baku), famous for the old Soviet leprosarium located there. The inmates of the famous Gobustan "covered" prison will serve long and life sentences in prison rooms designed for 1300 people. A few days ago, a new closed-type institution of the State penitentiary service of the Ministry of Justice was shown to a group of human rights defenders. The participants of the event planted trees around the prison.

Commenting on the opening of the new prison, the chairman of the Human Rights Center of Azerbaijan, Eldar Zeynalov, told Turan that in Azerbaijan, according to some reports, 60% of those who have served time are returning to prison. 

"In the Soviet, by no means liberal, relapse was half as much. I see the explanation in the fact that, firstly, the convicted criminal worked in the camp, even sent earnings to the family, and now does not work, sits on the neck of the family and morally degrades. And secondly, for evading employment and a dependent lifestyle in the bad old days, they were criminally punished. And now no one is employed or punished. 

In Gobustan, one of the problems was the lack of wrk. It was not an institution for re-education, but a storage room (without a guarantee that the deposited "goods" will not morally rot from idleness). It is bad when a convicted man can give birth to children during long visits with his wife, but at the same time does not have the opportunity to help the family with his earnings, even if minimal," Zeynalov said.

 Among those who visited the prisons in Umbaki was Zaliha Tahirova, a member of the Board of the PCA. ...Tairova has been monitoring places of detention since 1995 .Tairova told Turan about what she saw in the new prison, in the village of Umbaki:

- By the decree of the Head of State dated June 11, 2007, the Ministry of Justice was ordered to "ensure the transfer of the prison located on the territory near the borders of the Gobustan State Historical and Artistic Reserve and harmful to its general appearance.

The prison really irritated the eyes of tourists. Since Soviet times, a colony serving a quarry has been located at the foot of the mountain.  Thanks to the extraction of stone, in fact, the famous petroglyphs of Gobustan were found.

But then the Karabakh conflict broke out, and Armenian troops captured Shusha, which housed the only "covered" prison in Azerbaijan (with a cell content). Its prisoners were transferred to a hastily adapted colony in Gobustan, turning it into a prison. It immediately became special, as its prisoners were those sentenced to prison for grave and especially grave crimes, pardoned death row inmates, as well as prisoners of ordinary colonies punished for multiple violations of the regime. In the spring of 1998 they were joined by those suicide bombers who became the first lifers under the decree on the abolition of the death penalty. In 1994-1999, Armenian prisoners were also held in Gobustan.

There was also a "special" attitude of prison staff to the special contingent, often going beyond the strictures prescribed by law. There was a high mortality rate from diseases — prisoners were often refused to be sent to the prison hospital, allegedly because of their public danger, and were treated in a rather poorly equipped prison hospital. Suicides were not uncommon among the prisoners, the circumstances of which often left uncomfortable questions, but there was no psychologist for a long time. It is not surprising that the prisoners of Gobustan were frequent and successful complainants to the European Court of Human Rights and the UN Human Rights Committee.

In 1999, Gobustan became the site of an armed uprising (with victims). In 2005, there was another riot of prisoners, already without victims. Bosses often changed here, vacant positions of personnel who could not withstand toxic working conditions remained unfilled for a long time.

It is not surprising that international commissions have often visited the Gobustan prison since 2000, which found that the conditions of detention did not meet the standards of the UN and the Council of Europe. Following the recommendations, the prison legislation was improved over time, and a number of complaints stopped. And mortality has decreased. But even after that, the Gobustan prison did not meet a number of requirements of the "European Penitentiary Rules" mandatory for Azerbaijan as a member state of the Council of Europe.

For example, according to national standards, the area of a prison cell should be at least 4 sq.m per prisoner, while the European standard is 6-7 sq.m. The workload of the prison with prisoners did not allow even this national standard to be observed in most buildings. The poor layout of the prison buildings, where there was an insufficient number of exercise yards, did not allow prisoners to walk in the fresh air for more than one hour. There were many other complaints that would seem petty to a free person, but which are sensitively oppressed and humiliated when you sit in four walls in the same company from year to year. I will add that the climatic conditions in Gobustan are also not particularly healthy...

The prison authorities responded to all the recommendations of human rights defenders and international organizations that there were no free finances and promised to build a new prison in the future according to European standards, where all problems would be solved. After the presidential decree of 2007, these promises gained real weight. Even the place for the future prison became known — the little-known village of Umbaki, located closer and more convenient than Gobustan. However, the order did not set a specific deadline for the transfer of the prison, and the new prison became a "long-term construction".

Now, finally, the prison in Umbaki has been completed and put into operation. From what we managed to see during the limited time of the tour, it can be noted that the conditions in the cells, in comparison with Gobustan, have significantly improved. The living area is quite European in size. The floor is wooden. And if in Gobustan there was one bedside table for two for personal belongings, dishes, etc., then in Umbaki there is a whole cabinet with shelves.

The window is light, with a rare lattice and twice as large as what was in Gobustan. And there it was located directly above the toilet, which was fenced off from the rest of the cell by a low partition so that the guard could see the prisoner in the toilet as well. Accordingly, the air from the window could be considered clean only conditionally. And the chamber was always filled with fumes from the toilet and sink.

In the new prison, the bathroom is completely separated from the cell, ventilated and, most importantly, equipped with a shower. But the opportunity to wash more often was one of the long-standing wishes of prisoners, especially in summer. Now it will be possible to wash at least every day.

The problem with outdoor walks has been completely solved. Each cell has its own walking courtyard, with a barred ceiling, where there is access for the time from rise to lights out. You can walk there, you can play sports, or you can sit at a plastic table, reading books or talking over tea.

As in Gobustan, here each camera is equipped with a TV mounted on the wall, which is very important for people isolated from society. For example, when televisions were installed in the cells in Gobustan in 2008, suicide attempts completely stopped for a year or two. Subsequently, prisoners' complaints were already only about a small number of channels and (from foreigners) about the absence of Russian- and English-language channels. It is possible that Umbaki will solve this problem as well.

The medical unit is equipped significantly better than in Gobustan, and has an even better hospital than is provided in the central prison hospital for life prisoners. So some sick prisoners will no longer be disturbed by being transported to the hospital and back, with humiliating personal searches and shaking in a prison car.

There were a lot of comments in Gobustan prison about keeping prisoners in touch with their families. At one time, a wish that seemed fantastic at the time was expressed that, in addition to telephone conversations, the possibility of video visits should also be provided for those prisoners whose relatives live far from Baku. In Umbaki, this was implemented, in addition to the phone calls provided for by law, short-term and long-term visits. In prison, there is a possibility of remote testimony by video link.

In addition to a room for personal visits (through glass), the new prison has quite decent rooms for long visits with its own kitchen, bathroom, refrigerator, TV. It is somehow not customary to talk about "shameful" issues like sex between a prisoner and his wife, but it is very important for convicts for a long or life term to know that his family will not be interrupted, even if his days end in prison. This helps the prisoner maintain self-esteem and not get depressed.

Earlier, in Soviet times, this was helped by the opportunity to work and earn money by helping the family. In Gobustan, prisoners were not provided with work. It is not yet known whether they will have the opportunity to work in Umbaki, or they will also be idling in four walls, as in Gobustan.

It is also necessary to consider the possibility of distance education of prisoners. Education is considered one of the methods of correction of convicts, but only self-education was allowed in Gobustan. And an attempt to continue higher education interrupted by arrest by one of the life prisoners was not allowed. I would like to believe that in Umbaki the attitude to distance education will be more liberal. Moreover, from video testimony and remote testimony in court to passing exams at the university in the same way, the distance is insignificant.

So far, we can only say about the prison kitchen that it is well equipped. What the menu will be and whether the prisoners will be happy with it, it will be clear when it all works.

So far, we can only say about the prison kitchen that it is well equipped. What the menu will be and whether the prisoners will be happy with it, it will be clear when it all works.

In Shaki and Nakhchivan, similar prisons are already working satisfactorily, and there are much fewer questions about the conditions of detention there than in the old Soviet prisons. The same combined prison (pre-trial detention center and mixed-regime colony) in Lankaran is on the way. They promise to build a new prison in Ganja soon.

Often people have a question: is it worth improving prison conditions for criminals, spending on them the budget money that could be used to treat war invalids, help the elderly and children? Usually it is asked by those people who have not been in prison themselves and have not worried about the convicted members of their families. They see the mission of prisons in society's revenge on those who have crossed the red line, and not in their correction. And criminals in their eyes are almost incorrigibly vicious people from birth. And at the same time, there are many life situations that confirm the saying "do not swear from the bag and from prison." Someone committed an accident, someone committed official negligence, someone went too far in a drunken brawl at a wedding, someone heard something and did not report where it should be, etc. And, having received a well-deserved punishment for this, a person should not be humiliated, branded and deprived of a chance to return to work. the right way after liberation. After all, those who today arrogantly stigmatize a stumbler, tomorrow they may find themselves in his position or meet this person on a narrow path, but already morally broken and embittered for the whole world," Z. Tahirova said after visiting a new prison for particularly dangerous prisoners in the village Umbaki.

On November 17th, just ahead of Azerbaijan's professional holiday honoring the nation's justice authorities, a long-anticipated prison facility for particularly dangerous criminals was officially opened in the village of Umbaki, situated 40 kilometers south of the capital, Baku. This newly inaugurated institution marks a significant step in the country's ongoing efforts to reform its criminal justice system. The new facility will house inmates, including those formerly incarcerated at the notorious Gobustan "covered" prison, who are serving long and life sentences. This development comes after years of construction and planning.

Human rights advocates and observers were recently granted access to the new closed-type facility, which falls under the jurisdiction of the State Penitentiary Service within the Ministry of Justice. During their visit, participants planted trees around the prison compound, symbolizing a commitment to positive change within Azerbaijan's criminal justice system.

Eldar Zeynalov, Chairman of the Human Rights Center of Azerbaijan, emphasized the pressing need for reform in the country's prisons. He pointed out that recidivism rates in Azerbaijan, by some accounts, have reached 60%, significantly higher than during the Soviet era. Zeynalov highlighted the stark differences between past and present systems, particularly regarding inmate employment. In the past, convicted criminals in labor camps worked, often sending earnings to support their families. Today, many inmates do not work and instead depend on their families, leading to moral degradation. Furthermore, the punitive measures against evading employment that existed in the past no longer apply.

Gobustan, the infamous prison being replaced by the new facility, had long been criticized for its harsh conditions and lack of meaningful rehabilitation programs. It served more as a storage facility for inmates, with insufficient opportunities for re-education or constructive activities. Zeynalov noted that one of the prison's problems was a shortage of employment opportunities, a key factor in the rehabilitation and reintegration of prisoners.

He emphasized the importance of enabling prisoners to support their families through work, even if it involves minimal earnings. Zeynalov further highlighted the paradox of prisoners being able to have children during visits with their spouses but lacking the ability to contribute financially to their families' well-being.

The Gobustan prison complex's history is marred by various issues, including a high mortality rate due to inadequate medical care and challenging living conditions. Suicides were not uncommon, and prison staff often exceeded their legal authority. International human rights organizations frequently investigated conditions at Gobustan and found them to be substandard according to UN and Council of Europe standards.

The new prison in Umbaki represents a significant improvement in living conditions. In comparison to Gobustan, the cells are more spacious and better equipped. The new cells have wooden floors, larger windows with improved ventilation, separate bathrooms with showers, and separate outdoor exercise areas for each cell. Each cell is also equipped with a wall-mounted TV, which is essential for prisoners isolated from society.

Medical facilities in the new prison surpass those in Gobustan, offering better healthcare services to inmates. Moreover, the prison has dedicated rooms for personal and extended visits, providing a more humane environment for family interactions.

The new prison also addresses some of the challenges related to prisoners maintaining contact with their families. It offers various communication options, including video visits and remote testimonies, in addition to standard phone calls. This step ensures that prisoners can stay connected with their loved ones, even when their incarceration extends for years or a lifetime.

The facility is also expected to facilitate distance education for prisoners, opening up opportunities for self-improvement and potential rehabilitation.

While the quality of the prison's food menu remains to be seen, the improved living conditions and focus on rehabilitation and reintegration are important steps in reforming Azerbaijan's criminal justice system.

As Azerbaijan continues its efforts to enhance prison conditions and promote rehabilitation, it reflects a growing awareness that prisoners, even those who have crossed societal boundaries, deserve the opportunity for a second chance and reintegration into society. These reforms are aimed not only at reducing recidivism but also at fostering a more just and humane criminal justice system that aligns with international standards and values.

https://turan.az/en/social/improving-conditions-in-the-new-prison-will-help-prevent-the-return-of-convicts-to-the-underworld-774623