Algerian embassy in Ukraine does not react in favor of Algerian prisoner there

Algerian prisoner in Ukraine launches strike and sews his mouth protesting his abusive imprisonment

Algerian embassy in Ukraine does not react in favor of Algerian prisoner there

El Khabar, 17 august 2008

The health conditions of an Algerian prisoner in Ukraine, named Merouane Said, worsened as he suffers from illness resulted from the strike of hunger, and the violence he is subjected to by the prison’s guards. But the Algerian embassy in Kiev has not reacted in favour of the Algerian national.
In this regard, the father of the Algerian prisoner has indicated that his son is being held at a Ukrainian prisoner, situated 130km away the capital Kiev, adding that his son contacted him and told him about the bad conduct of the prison’s guards, telling him that he has was put in a cell 3 months ago. He further added that his son has sewed his mouth, and has undertaken a hunger strike as result of abusive 12-years sentenced issued against him by the Ukrainian justice, he was charged with being involved in an attack.
In the meantime, the prisoner’s father said that he contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Algiers, repeatedly, and explained the situation of his son, but no reaction in favour of his son has been seen until now. So the Algerian authorities have not charged a lawyer to defend him, because the sentence issued by a Ukrainian court did not allow him hiring a lawyer.
According to the same speaker, the facts of the case in which Merouane is involved reaches back to 2005, when he was in a place near a place in which attack was perpetuated by unknown people, and because he was the only Algeria close to the incident place, he has been arrested by the Ukrainian police. He was tortured during 10 days, and obliged signing the Police transcript, even if it was written in Ukrainian language.

17-08-2008
By M. Cherak/Translation Section