MOSCOW, October 2 (RAPSI) – Prisoner Yevgeny Makarov, who had suffered torture from employees of the Yaroslavl Penal Colony One in Russia, was released, lawyer Irina Biryukova told RAPSI on Tuesday.

In July, Novaya Gazeta newspaper published a video showing an inmate being tortured by some persons wearing grey camouflage uniforms. Later, it was revealed that the victim on the video was identified as Yevgeny Makarov, who was serving his term in the Yaroslavl penal colony. The video was filmed by one of the staff members.

Later, authorities launched a criminal case over torture resulting in 10 employees of the Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) being detained. Makarov was transferred to another penitentiary facility.

On August 2, the Investigative Committee of Russia brought charges against 12 employees of the Yaroslavl Penal Colony One as part of the case over beating and torture of an inmate.

The defendants are Maksim Yablokov, Igor Bogdanov, Ruslan Tsvetkov, Aleksey Brovkin, Dmitry Solovyov, Sergey Drachev, Ivan Kalashnikov, Sergey Yefremov, Alexander Morozov, Andrey Zybin, Aleksey Andreyev and Aleksey Mikityuk.

The case is classified as abuse of office involving use of violence, which is being investigated by the main directorate of the Investigative Committee. The crime may be punished by a prison term of up to 10 years.

Irina Biryukova, the inmate’s attorney, who handed the footage to the media, has asked the Federal Chamber of Attorneys to ensure her safety because of threats from the prison staff. She also announced that she was leaving Russia.

The Chairman of the Presidential Council for Human Rights Mikhail Fedotov visited the penal colony on July 23. The Council filed its reports with the Investigative Committee and the Prosecutor General’s Office.