Allegations of Torture in Prison Must Be Investigated

Youth Initiative for Human Rights in Montenegro, in co-operation with Civil Rights Defenders, has over the last years followed and reported on some torture cases, as well as pressured the responsible state institutions to step up its efforts to fully eradicate torture and inhuman and degrading treatment within some state structures.

A few of the cases have been connected to prisoners in the Institution for Enforcement of Criminal Sanctions (ZIKS).  At the end of January media announced that over 100 prisoners in ZIKS were on hunger strike because of the way they were treated by the prison staff. The administration of ZIKS denied these facts, while independent monitors have not been allowed to enter the prison in order to verify what is going on.

Civil Rights Defenders is concerned that there are reports and allegations of torture and inhuman and degrading treatment within ZIKS. It is of utmost importance that such allegations and reports are properly investigated by independent control organs. We urge the responsible institutions to take its responsibility and to do everything possible to prevent possible ill-treatment of prisoners. YIHR in Montenegro will together with Civil Rights Defenders continue monitoring and reporting on the situation in regard to prisoners within ZIKS, as well as the overall situation in regard to the prohibition of torture and inhuman and degrading treatment in Montenegro.

Read our letter to Macedonian Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic and Minister of Justice Miras Radovic.