Ukrainian pre-trial detention facilities have launched a pay jail service, Justice Minister Denys Maliuska said.
“The first one to have managed was a Kyiv jail which has opened four cells: one two-bed, one three-bed, and two four-bed. The rest will join in later. The price for accommodation in Kyiv depends in the length of the pay period: Hr 2,000 per day, Hr 8,000 per week, and Hr 12,000 per month,” Maliuska said on Facebook.
Next week the ministry will launch an online payment option on its Online House of Justice website.
“The money received by a jail will be used to maintain proper conditions in free cells and to cover the cost of upgraded cells,” Maliuska said.
He noted, that the aim of the pay jail service is to eliminate corruption and provide additional funding for pre-trial detention facilities.
According to the minister, these will be no “VIP cells,” but larger than normal cells with basic equipment such as a fridge, a television set, or cutlery.
“Well, something not in dire need of repair, as is often the case in our pre-trial detention facilities. The presence of pay cells does not violate human rights. As ever, we ensure the functioning of free cells which, far from deteriorating, will in fact be improved at the expense of the income generated by pay cells,” Maliuska added.
The upgrade only applies to pre-trial detention facilities, i.e. for people awaiting sentencing and presumed to be innocent of the crime, he said.
“As for criminals (i.e. those whose convictions are already effective), they will have no improved conditions for money created for them. All prisoners will be on equal terms and serve their sentences for a crime committed,” the minister said.
