You may remember that on May 19, 2010 Mr. Prytkov, system administrator at OOO Orenburg Vodokanal, was detained by the police in his office and taken to the operational investigation station of the Orenburg Regional Directorate of the Interior. Vladimir was beaten and subjected to choking with the purpose of making him give false evidence against his brother whom the police wanted to accuse of a crime.
Several hours later the investigators had to release their victim. When Vladimir returned to the office, he had to go to hospital where he was diagnosed with “arterial hypertension of the 1-2nd degree”, also his injuries were documented. On May 20, 2010 Vladimir once again applied for medical assistance. He was urgently hospitalized with the following diagnosis: “Combined craniocerebral injury. Brain contusion of medium severity. Subarachnoid hemorrhage. Contusions of soft tissues of the head.”
It must be noted that within a year and a half the investigative authorities have issued 9 unlawful refusals to instigate criminal proceedings.
The Committee Against Torture hopes that the investigation will replenish the evidential base and address the gaps resulting from delays, as well as lead to the prosecution of those responsible for tortures.