A/HRC/25/60/Add.2 placed on a convict transit train headed to the Eastern part of Russia. At the time of the communication, Ms. Tolokonnikova’s whereabouts, which remained unconfirmed by officials, were unknown to her lawyers and her family and serious concern was expressed about her health and safety. In its reply, the Government verified the information contained in the communication, and stated that on 23 September 2013, Ms. Tolokonnikova was transferred from her prison camp, IK-14, to a secure location for a period of 30 days, after she submitted a letter stating her intention to begin a hunger strike and containing a request to ensure her safety because of threats and physical intimidation on the part of officials and prisons in prison IK-14. The Government explained that Ms. Tolokonnikova’s complaint was dismissed on 26 September in a decision not to investigate the allegations or institute a criminal case under the Criminal Procedure Code, and safety and security measures were discontinued. It is further provided that on 29 October 2013, the dismissal of Ms. Tolokonnikova’s complaint was revoked by regional authorities in the Republic of Mordovia, who requested an examination of the reasons behind the decision not to investigate or sanction prison IK-14 officials. The Government denied allegations that any of Ms. Tolokonnikova’s visitation requests were refused, and affirmed that she was allowed to communicate with her lawyers and a human rights expert from the State Duma on eight occasions. The Government holds that Ms. Tolokonnikova was legitimately denied a visit with her lawyer on 22 October 2013 under Article 89 of the Criminal and Executive Code, which only permits meetings with lawyers on the territory of correctional facilities, because at the time she was in transit between correctional facilities. The Government further submits that Ms. Tolokonnikova was provided adequate medical care and regular examinations whilst in detention, including hospital treatment between 29 September and 17 October 2013. The Government lastly provides that due to a possible threat to Ms. Tolokonnikova’s life and health in prison IK-14, she was ultimately transferred to the KTB1 correctional facility in the Krasnoyarsk Region, that authorities notified her relatives of her arrival in accordance with regular procedures, and that her health condition was considered satisfactory whilst she continued to undergo appropriate medical treatment and examinations. The Special Rapporteur thanks the Government for its detailed response clarifying Ms. Tolokonnikova’s whereabouts at the times referred to in the communication. The Special Rapporteur notes that, in late 2013, Ms. Tolokonnikova was pardoned and released from prison, for which he commends the Russian Government. Nevertheless, the State’s response did not address the allegations of forced labour in prison amounting to slavery, or the mistreatment of Ms. Tolokonnikova by prison authorities in the IK-14 colony as retaliation for her complaints, nor does it explain the outcome of the investigation conducted into these allegations. In this context, the Special Rapporteur expresses continued concern for the welfare and rights of persons who may continue to be subjected to forced labour in this prison. The Special Rapporteur draws attention to article 4 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and article 8(1), (3)(a) of the ICCPR, which prohibit slavery, and to articles 71-76 concerning prison labour in the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, adopted in resolutions 663 C and 2076 of the United Nations Economic and Social Council, which provide minimum standards related to conditions for work and state, inter alia, that “prison labour must not be of an afflictive nature” The Special Rapporteur calls on the Government to undertake a prompt and independent investigation into all such allegations, leading to prosecution and punishment of perpetrators, and to provide full redress to the victims’ families. The Special Rapporteur also encourages the Government of the Russian Federation to continue its engagement with the mandate. 93

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