The key facts

  • The former head of FKU LIU-16 in Novokuznetsk was sentenced to 4 years and 6 months of imprisonment
  • Witnesses were coerced into giving false testimony to conceal beatings of inmates by the colony's 'asset group'
  • The ex-officer was stripped of the rank of senior lieutenant of internal service and banned from working in the penitentiary system for three years; the verdict has not entered into force

Sentence for covering up beatings

In Kuzbass, a former head of the medical correctional facility FKU LIU-16 in Novokuznetsk has been sentenced: he was convicted of abuse of office and coercing witnesses to give false testimony. This was reported by the Judicial Department Administration of Kemerovo Region on its VKontakte page.

What the court established

According to the investigation, confirmed by the court, in July 2025 cases of bodily injuries inflicted on inmates were identified at FKU LIU-16. To conceal the crimes committed by members of the so-called 'prisoners' asset group' and avoid negative consequences for the facility's performance figures, the management decided to shift the blame onto other inmates. Witnesses held at the facility were coerced into giving false testimony under threats of harm to their health from the 'asset group'. Later, some of the inmates who had testified under pressure reported the coercion.

Punishment and status of the verdict

The defendant fully admitted his guilt and signed a pre-trial cooperation agreement. The court sentenced him to 4 years and 6 months of imprisonment. The former officer, whose name is not disclosed, was also stripped of the special rank of 'senior lieutenant of internal service' and banned from holding positions in the penitentiary system for three years. The verdict has not yet entered into legal force. Gazeta.Ru writes about the case citing the regional Judicial Department Administration.

Context

Earlier, according to press reports, in St Petersburg, a former colony head together with an inmate took bribes to cover up violations — that is a separate case, unrelated to the Novokuznetsk proceedings.