The European Union is concerned about prisoners’ rights violations in Ukraine and is calling for reforms

Widespread violations of the rights of detainees and prisoners, including torture and ill-treatment, remain a serious concern in Ukraine.

This information reported according to the European Commission’s latest report on the country’s progress toward the reforms required for EU membership, published today.

The document cites illegal arrests, excessive pretrial detention, violations of the right to life, cases of torture and police abuse, poor conditions in detention facilities, inadequate medical care, prolonged judicial proceedings, and a lack of effective legal remedies.

Currently, 694 cases against Ukraine related to prison, pretrial detention, and penal colony conditions are pending under the supervision of the Council of Europe.

The European side urged Ukraine to address systemic and structural problems underlying these violations and to ensure the timely implementation of European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) rulings. Among the recommended steps are: reforming the oversight system and clearly separating detention and law enforcement functions to prevent pressure on detainees, introducing effective anti-torture safeguards, improving prisoners’ access to healthcare, and bringing detention conditions in line with European standards.

Earlier, media outlets reported that Ukrainian authorities are seeking mass extraditions from Europe in various criminal cases. However, experts warn that extradited individuals could face serious risks due to poor prison conditions in Ukraine.