Reports on the ad hoc visits to Ukraine in February and September 2014 and responses of the Ukrainian authorities (treatment by law enforcement officials of “Maidan” demonstrators and persons detained in the context of “anti-terrorism” operations, situation in colonies) 60. The first publication concerns the report on the February 2014 ad hoc visit to Ukraine and the related response of the Ukrainian Government. The main objective of the visit was to examine the manner in which anti-Government demonstrators (referred to as “Maidan” demonstrators) were apprehended and treated by law enforcement officials in the context of two public order operations in January 2014 (in Kyiv and Dnipropetrovsk) and February 2014 (in Kyiv). The report stresses that, in the CPT’s view, the deliberate ill-treatment of “Maidan” demonstrators by or with the acquiescence of law enforcement officials prior to their handover to police convoy officers or investigators, was an accepted means of enforcing law and order during the public order operations at issue. In several instances, the alleged ill-treatment was of such severity that it could be considered as amounting to torture. The report also contains detailed information on a number of individual cases of alleged ill-treatment by law enforcement officials. 61. The second publication concerns the report on the September 2014 ad hoc visit to Ukraine and the related response of the Ukrainian authorities. The main objective of this visit was to review the treatment of prisoners by staff at two correctional colonies in the Kharkiv area, namely Colonies Nos. 25 and 100. Further, as a follow-up to the February General Report of the CPT, 2015 ► Page 28 2014 visit, the delegation reviewed the action taken by prosecutors to investigate allegations of ill-treatment of detained persons by law enforcement officials during the “Maidan” events in Kyiv between November 2013 and February 2014. In this connection, particular attention was paid to specific cases which had been identified by the Committee during the February 2014 visit. Moreover, the delegation exam­ ined the situation of persons who had been detained by law enforcement officials in Kyiv and Kharkiv in the context of ongoing “anti-terrorism” operations. 62. The majority of persons detained in the context of “anti-terrorism” operations who were interviewed by the delegation stated that they had been treated correctly whilst in the hands of law enforcement officials. Further, the delegation received no allegations of ill-treatment by custodial staff at the detention facility of the State Security Service (SBU) in Kyiv and the pre-trial establishments (SIZOs) in Kyiv and Kharkiv. That said, some allegations were received of excessive use of force by SBU officers at the time of apprehension and/or of ill-treatment during subsequent questioning by SBU officers. In addition, a few allegations were heard of excessive use of force by soldiers at the time of apprehension. 63. As regards the investigations into allegations of ill-treatment by law enforcement officials during the “Maidan” events, a consultation of relevant criminal investigation files revealed that, in all five cases examined by the delegation, investigators and prosecutors had carried out many essential  investigative steps. However, a number of shortcomings were identified (e.g. a lack of forensic medical examinations, delays in