Prisons in Ukraine

Main article: Ukraine

2023: Ukraine creates online booking platform for cells in jail

On July 21, 2023, the head of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine Denis Malyuska announced that the department intends to launch an online booking service for paid cameras in pre-trial detention centers (SIZO).

The fact that the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine opened paid VIP cameras in the pre-trial detention center became known in 2020. Then Malyuska said that such cells appeared in pre-trial detention centers in Zaporozhye, Zaporozhye region and Dnipro. The proceeds were planned to be used to repair free cameras, which "will reduce the level of corruption."

The Ministry of Justice of Ukraine intends to launch an online booking service for paid cameras in pre-trial detention centers

As Malyuska said, by mid-July 2023, paid cameras operate throughout Ukraine, but the greatest demand is observed in the Kyiv pre-trial detention center. According to him, the service is "wildly popular" - paid cameras are always in short supply, although there is a whole building in the indicated pre-trial detention center. Therefore, the Ministry of Justice decided to organize an Internet service in the style of Booking (online hotel booking system) with the ability for those arrested to queue. It is assumed that this approach will ensure the transparency of the reservation and eliminate the occurrence of conflict situations.

We did not expect that the demand for paid cameras in Kyiv would be so high. Knowing in advance, perhaps, would begin the reconstruction and construction of two more buildings in order to somehow keep up with demand, - said Malyuska.

The minister also says that improper conditions of detention in the pre-trial detention center are an issue in connection with which the European Court of Human Rights awards compensation payments. People in the pre-trial detention center are considered innocent until the court proves otherwise, so a person, according to Malyuska, should have the opportunity to pay for the best conditions of stay. For those whom the court has already sentenced to a prison term, improved conditions of detention for money will not be provided.^[1]

2022: The minimum age for children to be jailed is 14

Data for 2022

2021

Ukrainian IT company SoftServe bought a closed Lviv colony

In mid-July 2021, SoftServe bought the previously closed Lviv penal colony during an auction. The transaction value amounted to UAH 377.5 million. On the territory of this facility, the Ukrainian IT company plans to build an office complex. Read more here.

The start of the "big privatization of prisons" in Ukraine

On February 9, 2021, the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine announced the start of the project "Great Privatization of Prisons," within the framework of which the property of 35 correctional prisons throughout the country, which are under conservation, will be sold. The initiative is being implemented jointly with the State Property Fund (FGI).

Each of these institutions located throughout Ukraine has already ceased its specialized activities. Maintaining closed institutions that do not fulfill their functions is unprofitable for the state, since it is millions of hryvnias of expenses annually, "said Deputy Minister of Justice of Ukraine Elena Vysotskaya (quoted by Interfax).

"Large privatization of prisons" begins in Ukraine

The sale of mothballed prisons, which will begin in February 2021, will help the state get rid of one of the sources of losses, as well as provide additional budget revenues. In addition, this project will allow the construction of new, modern correctional centers according to the European model, he added.

As part of the "Great Privatization of Prisons," the authorities promise "transparent bidding" through the ProZorro system. It is believed that this will determine the buyer who will offer the best price. Part of the proceeds from the sale of prisons will remain in the accounts of the correctional system, and the rest will be in the state budget.

The Irpen Correctional Center No. 132, located 6 km from the Akademgorodok metro station in Kyiv, will be the first to leave the auction. The starting price of the complex is 220.2 million hryvnia. According to the deputy of the State Property Fund Taras Eleiko, the object has excellent investment potential. The total area of ​ ​ the Irpen Correctional Center is 8.3 hectares. All the necessary communications are connected to it, a railway is located nearby, which adds the center to the cost^{[2] [3]}

2018

Number of prisoners relative to population

The number of prisoners in relation to the population in Europe. Data for 2018

The number of prisoners per 100 thousand citizens

Notes