You're reading: Avakov was imprisoned in top security jail before trial

KHARKIV – Former Head of Kharkiv Regional State Administration and Head of Kharkiv Regional Organization of the Batkivschyna Party Arsen Avakov was placed in a top security prison during his detention in Frosinone (Italy).

"Before the court sitting they placed me in prison and I stayed there. As it appeared later, it happened to be a top security prison, one of two or three on the territory of Italy. But I did not notice this [top security]. Restriction of freedom exerts most pressure on a person in an Italian prison. You are deprived of freedom, closed in the cell, you may sit there and read books, watch TV, walk, have meals – it’s great, to be short. But you cannot go away," Avakov said during a Web conference on April 17.

According to Avakov, the main problem he faced in the Italian prison was the lack of people that speak Russian and Ukrainian.

"Once they brought a man, who, as prisoners and officers thought, spoke Ukrainian. He came up to me and said, ‘Lukashenko, hurrah!’ And that was all he knew. But this really impressed all of his colleagues and he was very happy," Avakov said.

According to him, his cell was meant for two people. Unlike the cells where people sentenced to long terms are imprisoned, where "there are carpets, frying pans and they can make coffee," his cell was empty.

"Everyone realized that I was imprisoned not for a long time," Avakov said.

At first an engineer and later "a young man" were his cell mates.

"We talked as far as it was possible. We pointed with fingers into the sky, the TV, newspapers, at least we tried to communicate. Later my wife passed me a phrasebook and it became easier," Avakov said.

He failed to say what for his cell mates were imprisoned.

"When they asked me, I could not answer why I was imprisoned," Avakov said with a smile.