The ECHR recognized a violation of the rights of paralyzed ex-prisoner Topekhin, who complained about torture conditions in “Matrosskaya Tishina” and the Kostroma colony

In Strasbourg, the European Court of Human Rights partially recognized the violation of the rights of the paralyzed Vladimir Topekhin, who was sent to a general regime colony, RAPSI reports .

The ECHR partially upheld Vladmir Topekhin’s complaint about the conditions of detention, transfer to Kostroma and delays in considering applications for extension of arrest. Thus, the European Court of Human Rights found Russia guilty of violating Topekhin’s rights and ordered 19.5 thousand euros in compensation from Russia.

Vladimir Topekhin stated in his appeal to the ECHR that Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (prohibition of torture) was violated in relation to him in connection with the quality of medical care while in custody and the conditions of detention, when his cellmates provided him with the necessary assistance. In addition, in his complaint, Topekhin noted that the transfer to the place of serving the sentence in Kostroma took more than 16 hours in an ordinary vehicle that was not equipped to transport patients.

Topekhin also drew attention to the excessive period of pre-trial detention and the delay in considering his complaints about the extension of the arrest, which, in his opinion, violates Article 5 of the Convention (the right to freedom and personal security).

Vladimir Topekhin was arrested in July 2013 on suspicion of fraud on an especially large scale. According to investigators, while working as an auditor, he promised 10 million rubles to help open a Forensic Examination Center in Moscow, however, he did not fulfill his obligations and embezzled the money. His period of detention was repeatedly extended.

In January 2014, Topekhin was sentenced to six years in a general regime colony. The Tverskoy District Court of Moscow pronounced the verdict at an off-site hearing in the Matrosskaya Tishina pre-trial detention center, since by that time Topekhin was already paralyzed in the lower part of his body due to a spinal injury. In February 2014, the Moscow City Court commuted the sentence to four years.

In July 2014, the Sverdlovsk District Court of Kostroma decided to release the man from further serving his sentence due to illness.