In Russia, at least 50 people died in pre-trial detention centers and during detentions in an hour

In Russia in 2023, at least 50 people died in pretrial detention centers, special reception centers, courts, police departments, and police cars. “Verstka” writes about this, which analyzed the messages of state agencies and mass media.

Most of them died in pre-trial detention centers – 22 people. Another 14 – in police departments, five – during detention, four – in police cars, two – in special receivers, one more – in court, in the FSIN car park and the hospital, where they were taken from the pre-trial detention center. Ten people died in Moscow, three each in Rostov-on-Don and Yekaterinburg, two each in Lipetsk, Orenburg and Samara. In total, deaths were recorded in at least 34 settlements.

Among the dead were 48 men and two women. Eleven of them died allegedly due to heart problems, and according to official data, the same number committed suicide. Nine people died after they “suddenly fell ill.” At least two died after police torture, one each from drug overdose, chronic illness and intentional failure to provide medical care. One person was killed by inmates. The causes of death of 13 victims are unknown.

The youngest victim was a 13-year-old schoolboy from the Yakut village of Belaya Gora. Police officers brought him home in an unconscious state in the trunk. The oldest is 73-year-old Nikolay Buhonin, who was suspected of pedophilia. Ego was found dead in a pre-trial detention center with a “scalped head wound, a facial injury, a dislocated shoulder joint and a fractured shoulder bone.”