Under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor General's Office, five officials of one of the correctional institutions in Kharkiv were detained, including: the head of the colony, his deputy, the assistant head of the institution on duty, and 2 operational officers.

According to the investigation, the leadership of the specified penal institution forced prisoners to work free of charge, including overtime. For this purpose, using operatives and other officers of the institution, they systematically humiliated the human dignity of these persons, while using intimidation, pressure, manipulation, blackmail, threats and insults.

In addition, the officers of the colony unjustifiably applied disciplinary measures to the prisoners.

Currently, detained officials have been notified of suspicion for committing criminal offenses provided for in part 3 of Art. 127 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, namely, the commission by representatives of the state of acts aimed at causing physical pain or moral suffering to convicts in order to force them to commit actions contrary to their will, committed by a group of persons based on a prior conspiracy.

Evidence is being collected on other facts of torture. Forensic experts work at the scene to properly record the traces of the crime.

Motions are being prepared to select preventive measures in the form of detention without bail.

Pre-trial investigation and operational support - officers of the State Bureau of Investigation.