E/CN.4/1991/17 page 64 Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Letters and Government replies 196. On 15 October the Special Rapporteur sent a letter to the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics concerning the following persons? (a) Alexander Alexandrovich Goldovich, aged 43, a physicitt, imprisoned since 1985 and currently held in a labour camp in Perm. It was alleged that he had been severely ill—treated between 22 January and 9 April 1990 and that his state of health was critical; (b) Anatoly Alexandrovich Matvyenko, aged 34, was allegedly forcibly sent to a psychiatric hospital in 1984; he escaped in 1985 but was rearrested and sentenced to eight years' imprisonment under a strict regime, which he served in a camp in Kharkov. According to information received, he was recently sent to Volnyansk psychiatric hospital and then transferred to an unknown detention centre. This reportedly followed the sending of a letter by inmates held in the Kharkov camp to the Ukrainian authorities, complaining about ill-treatment and harsh detention conditions in the camp. 197. On 3 December 1990 the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics provided the Special Rapporteur with detailed information on the two cases referred to above. As regards Mr. Goldovich, it was affirmed that "there have been no unlawful actions or breaches of the law in his regard. His state of health is satisfactory. On 2 October 1990, a medical investigatory board found him to be entirely fit for work". As for Mr. Matvyenko, details were given concerning the charges against him, his trials and sentences. It was stated that "while serving his sentence, Matvyenko has twice (1987 and 1989) undergone treatment in the Republican Psychiatric Hospital. He is currently in a corrective—labour establishment in Kharkov oblast. On 26 January 1990, criminal proceedings were instituted against him for malicious disobedience of the orders of the authorities of the corrective-labour establishment. On 29 September 1990, Matvyenko was found by psychiatric examination to be of sound mind and was diagnosed as an excitable psychopath." Venezuela Letters and Government replies 198. On 6 June 1990, the Special Rapporteur sent a letter to the Government of Venezuela transmitting information that, following the wave of protests and incidents which occurred in Caracas in late February and early March 1989, some persons, primarily student leaders and social activists, were arrested and reportedly subjected to torture and ill-treatment. Such practices were said to have occurred at the barracks of the Military Intelligence Department (DIM) in Caracas, the barracks of the Intelligence and Prevention Services Department (DISIP) and the Fuerte Tiuna Military Barracks. The methods of torture allegedly used included blows to all parts of the body, electric shocks, covering the head with a plastic bag until suffocation occurred, submerging the head in water and forcing persons to shower with ice-cold water for 10 minutes. Psychological torture, such as mock execution, was also allegedly used. According to the same source, the conclusions of the medical