The UK is concerned about the situation with prisoners' rights in Ukraine, UK Ambassador to Ukraine Simon Smith has said.
“We have always had concerns, it is important to us that the rights of all prisoners be observed,” the diplomat said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine on Wednesday, while commenting on the situation with the transfer of former Interior Minister of Ukraine Yuriy Lutsenko from a Kyiv-based clinic back to Mena Penal Colony in Chernihiv region.
The ambassador said Ukraine should create proper conditions for prisoners.
“It’s important to us and it should be important to all states that attach a lot of significance to the observation of human rights. We want all prisoners to have proper conditions and a humane attitude to them,” Smith said.
As reported, the convicted former interior minister, Yuriy Lutsenko, who underwent surgery in the Oberig private clinic in Kyiv, was transferred back to Mena penal colony in Kyiv region on Wednesday, on the morning of January 30.
The ex-minister’s wife and defense lawyer, Iryna Lutsenko, stated that such actions of the penitentiary service were an attempt on Lutsenko’s life. In turn, the oppositional political forces of Ukraine said that the ex-minister’s rights were roughly violated and vowed to inform foreign ambassadors and international organizations about the situation.
The EU also expressed concern about the situation with Lutsenko and urged the Ukrainian authorities to undertake responsibility for the ex-minister’s health.
Lutsenko has been serving a sentence in Mena colony, Chernihiv region, for several crimes involving the abuse of office, since the end of August 2012.
