Inside Moscow's Pechatniki: Women's Detention Center Holds High-Profile Inmates
In Moscow, Russia, the Pechatniki Pretrial Detention Center No. 6, the sole women's facility, houses inmates awaiting trial. Among its notable features are four round towers connected by long corridors, forming a square-shaped, four-story building. The center operates on partial self-sufficiency, with inmates handling daily tasks. Two high-profile inmates, blogger Yelena Blinovskaya and Valeria Fedyakina, known as Bitmama, currently reside here.
The detention center separates inmates based on the severity of their charges, applying the same principle to group therapy sessions and activities. It provides improved conditions in 'VIP cells' for a select few, featuring single-level beds and a television. Pregnant inmates give birth in a hospital and return with their newborns, housed in separate cells. The facility is where women are shuttled to countless court hearings, with Blinovskaya recently sentenced to five years for tax evasion and money laundering, and Fedyakina arrested for large-scale fraud exceeding 2.2 billion rubles.
Conditions in Russian pretrial detention centers often include overcrowded cells, inadequate sanitation, and limited access to medical care, which can negatively impact inmates' physical and mental health. Mothers in detention face unique challenges, with some facilities offering special programs, though these may not always be available or sufficient. Psychological stress, isolation, and uncertainty can lead to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues, with access to psychological support potentially limited. For detailed information about the Pechatniki facility, one can refer to reports by human rights organizations or official sources.
The Pechatniki Pretrial Detention Center No. 6 in Moscow houses women awaiting trial, with notable inmates including Yelena Blinovskaya and Valeria Fedyakina. While the facility operates on partial self-sufficiency and offers improved conditions for some, general conditions and access to healthcare can be challenging. To learn more about the specific conditions and available medical care, one should consult reports from human rights organizations.
