E/CN.4/2005/62/Add.2 page 21 of residence in the Russian Federation, his or her identity has not been established or an earlier preventive measure was violated. This measure may also be chosen when the suspect or accused person evaded the bodies conducting the pre-trial investigation or the court. The shortest period of detention is applied to a suspect who has not been indicted. The preventive measure of remand in custody may be applied for a longer period for an accused person and only in exceptional cases in respect of a suspect. In accordance with article 109 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, remand in custody may not exceed two months. In exceptional cases, pursuant to a court decision, that period may be extended to 18 months. Until the court takes a decision, detention may not exceed 48 hours, which is also in keeping with article 22 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation. The court has the right to extend the period of detention by another 72 hours until a final decision is taken concerning the need to place the person in custody (article 108, paragraph 6 (3), of the Code of Criminal Procedure of the Russian Federation). 103. Recommendation (f) stated: To the extent that more extensive use of release on bail or recognizance will not eliminate the overcrowding problem, there should be a crash programme to build new remand centres with sufficient accommodation for the anticipated population. 104. The Government reported that new remand centres are being built and existing remand centres are being refurbished in accordance with the federal special programme on reform of the penal correction system of the Ministry of Justice for the period 2002-2006, which was approved by the Government in August 2001. This programme provides for the introduction, over a fiveyear period, of an additional 46,000 places for holding accused persons and suspects. Since 1998, when the penal correction system was placed under the authority of the Ministry of Justice, 15 new remand centres, with a capacity for holding 6,018 persons, have begun operation. Over the past two years, as a result of the opening of new remand centres, the change in the function of prisons and the refurbishment of existing remand centres, over 13,000 additional places for holding persons suspected or accused of offences have been created. Moreover, in order to accommodate persons for whom the preventive measure of remand in custody has been chosen, with the agreement of the Office of the Procurator-General of the Russian Federation, specially equipped premises are being used as part of the system of remand centres. The premises are situated in penal correctional institutions. There are a total of 1,113 such premises, which hold 5,000 persons. The space allocated for each person held in a remand centre has been increased to an average of 3.9 square metres; the legal norm is 4 square metres. Currently, another 11 remand centres are being built, and 75 are being refurbished or expanded. By the end of 2004, it is expected that an additional 2,577 places will be available in remand centres. This has substantially improved detention conditions for suspects and accused and convicted persons in institutions of the penal correction system. All persons held in remand centres currently have individual sleeping areas, bedding and hygienic articles and plates and dishes in accordance with established norms. Suspects and accused persons bathe at least once a week and receive nutritious meals three times a day. Remand centres have carried out minor repairs. Sanitary engineering equipment has been replaced, toilets in cells have been partitioned, and buckets are being replaced by toilet bowls. 105. Recommendation (g) stated: Existing institutions should be refurbished so that all institutions meet basic standards of humanity and respect for human dignity.