judges approving certain investigative actions). Further, it became apparent that investigations had reached a deadlock, since investigators had not identified any law enforcement official as a potential perpetrator. Overall, the investigations that had been carried out by investigative prosecutors did not seem to meet the requirements of effectiveness as defined by the caselaw of the European Court of Human Rights and the relevant standards of the CPT. The Committee also reiterates its recommendation that steps be taken without any further delay to ensure that members of special forces and other uniformed police officers are always identifiable, through the wearing of a clearly visible identification number on the outside of their uniform or on their helmet. 64. At Colonies Nos. 25 and 100, the delegation once again received a sig­ nificant number of allegations of severe physical ill-treatment and/or torture of prisoners by prison officers; it appeared that, in both establishments, physical illtreatment was used as a tool to maintain internal order. Further, the delegation was struck by the overall climate of fear in both establishments and the reluctance of prisoners to be interviewed. Many allegations were received that pris­oners had been warned by staff not to say anything negative to the delegation. At Colony No. 100, allegations were also received that prisoners had been beaten up by prison officers after they had complained to a prosecutor or a representative of the Parliamentary Commissioner of Human Rights. Moreover, the CPT expressed concern about the frequency of allegations received in both colonies regarding corruption and exploitation of prisoners for economic reasons. In the visit report, the CPT welcomes the measures taken by the Ukrainian authorities after the visit regarding the allegations of ill-treatment and/or intimidation of prisoners in Colonies Nos. 25 and 100 (e.g. inspections of both colonies by representatives of the General Prosecutor’s Office, as well as by a joint commission of the Ministry of Justice and the State Penitentiary Service; dismissal of the Directors of both colonies; issuance by the Minister of Justice of a detailed set of instructions to the Directors of all prisons regarding the measures to be taken to prevent illtreatment and intimidation of prisoners). On the basis of all the information at its disposal, the CPT decided to close the procedure under Article 10, paragraph  2, of the Convention establishing the Committee, which had been set in motion in March 2013. The Committee also emphasises that it will continue to monitor closely the situation of prisoners in the abovementioned colonies (as well as in other prison establishments) and will not hesitate to re-open the procedure under Article 10, paragraph 2, at any moment, if it becomes apparent that the present process of improvement is not sustained and that the actions taken so far are not vigorously pursued at all levels. 65. During its visit to Colony No. 100, the CPT also reviewed the regime and security measures applied to prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment. Regrettably, most of the specific recommendations repeatedly made by the Committee after previous visits regarding the situation of life-sentenced prisoners had not been implemented. In particular, it remained the case that the prisoners concerned were usually locked up in their cells for 23 hours per day, were not allowed to have contact with life-sentenced prisoners from other Publication highlights ► Page 29