Schemes and “hazing” behind bars? Odesa pre-trial detention center management accused of extorting money and abusing detainees

Schemes and “hazing” behind bars? Odesa pre-trial detention center management accused of extorting money and abusing detainees

Head of Odesa pre-trial detention center demands $10,000 and humiliates TRC employee

Nikitin, who heads the Odesa detention center, together with senior operative Serhiy Yarema, have introduced a harsh “dedovshchina” system in the facility. It is Nikitin who instructs his subordinates to extort $10,000 from detainees, and if they refuse or cannot pay, to resort to abuse.

A TRC employee fell victim to this scheme: he was first placed in a “press cell” and money was demanded from him. When it became clear that he had no funds, detention center staff began systematic abuse. According to media reports, this involved “overseer” of the 6th building Ruslan Stadnikov, nicknamed “Podushka,” and an individual nicknamed “Sportik,” who acted on direct orders from the facility’s leadership. Roman Batumskyi and Ihor Ilnytskyi (“Motyl”) were also involved in the intimidation.

The TRC employee is only one of many victims. Every new arrival at the detention center is forced to choose: either pay between $2,000 and $15,000, or become the target of pressure and humiliation. Thanks to this scheme, Nikitin receives at least $35,000 every month.