Kazakhstan: relatives of convicts ask not to close the colony
The relatives of convicts, who are serving their terms in the institution OB-156/2, raise the alarm. According to them, the colony is soon going to be liquidated, and the prisoners are going to be transferred to other correctional institutions.
OB-156/2 is a strict regime colony in Ust-Kamenogorsk. People, who have committed grave and especially grave crimes, are serving their sentences here.
The information about the disbanding of the colony were reported on social networks by the relatives of the convicts with reference to the administration of the institution.
“We were informed about the disbandment of the camp. The institution has a large production capacity. The industrial zone works almost 24 hours a day. The convicts have the opportunity to work, pay off claims, and help their families. Many of them have small children. A large number of individual entrepreneurs, working on the territory of the institution, provide work, produce products (pasta, bakery, garments, furniture, etc.) and, accordingly, pay taxes to the regional budget. Upon disbandment, the convicts are planned to be transported to OB-156/6 in Shemonaikha and OB-156/15 in the city of Semey. A huge number of convicts will be deprived of the opportunity to work. To date, employees of the Department of the Penitentiary System report that this information is just rumors, and the order didn’t come to them. Why break up a working camp? Why use taxpayers’ money irrationally to transport convicts?” asked the relatives of the prisoners.
According to their information, over 500 people are currently serving their sentences in the colony ОВ-156/2. And in the colony in Shemonaikha, where they plan to transfer prisoners from OB-156/2, there are about 300 convicts.
“It will be cheaper to disband the institution in Shemonaikha! The institution of Shemonaikha is famous for its water containing heavy metals. It’s not drinkable. We think that this whole situation is connected with the closure of the camp for former employees in Zhengiz. Probably, they are planning to be transferred to the regional center. Why such privileges? They are also convicts!” people are indignant.
It’s worth recalling that the number of prisoners is steadily decreasing in Kazakhstan. In this regard, the Penitentiary System Committee regularly conducts work on the gradual closure of the oldest, architecturally and technically obsolete colonies. Last year, as part of this work in the East Kazakhstan region, the institution OB-156/17 in the village of Shuak was liquidated. By the way, this year another decrease in the number of prisoners is expected after the amnesty in honor of the 30th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s Independence. According to preliminary data, about 4,000 prisoners will be released.
