fionntan
20th August 2010, 14:06
Michael Campbell: Lukiskes Prison, Lithuania.
Michael Campbell
LUKISKES PRISON
Lukiskiu bstr. 6
Vilnius,LT 01108
Lithuania
Michael Campbell was arrested in Lithuania in 2008 for allegedly attempting to purchase arms for glaigh na hireann (commonly known as the Real IRA) although he maintains he traveled to Lithuania to purchase counterfeit cigarettes and is the victim of a set-up by Lithuanian and British authorities. Michael, whose brother Liam is currently in Maghaberry facing extradition to Lithuania, is from Dundalk Co. Louth and is currently imprisoned in Lukiskes Remand Prison in Vilnius. Michaels current status is relatively unknown; rumors of ill-health extending as far as him contracting malaria have been reported back, and while such information may seem shocking, a relative knowledge of Lithuanias prison system and authorities would easily soften the blow.
The prison is located in the center of Vilnius, capital of Lithuania, near the Lukikės Square. It houses approximately 1,000 prisoners and employs around 250 prison guards. Most of the prisoners are placed under temporary arrest awaiting court decisions or transfers to other detention facilities, but there is also a permanent prison with about 180 inmates; about 80 of them are sentenced for life. The Prison is over a century old and badly in need of investment and repair, built in 1904 it maintains a violent history with Prisoners having been massacred by the Russian NKVD during the German invasion of the Soviet Union.
The Lithuanian prison service and authorities in general are renowned for foul treatment of prisoners and citizens. Lithuanias role in torture is well known, having held several detainees who were rendered from Afghanistan via secret detention centres to Guantanamo bay. One of those secret detention centres was outside Vilnius where it is alleged Muslim prisoners were held outside of the legal process, so they could be tortured and in some cases allegedly killed. Media reports on a Muslim woman have come to light suggesting she was psychologically and physically ill-treated by Russian and Lithuanian intelligence agents. She testified on the 22nd July that 3 FSB agents routinely beat her and had done for months. A professor by the name of Rod Morgan who inspected the jail and whose findings were, like that of the Council of Europe Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT), horrendous. Prof. Morgan returned more recently but was denied full inspection of the facility; he met with Michael in his cell and stated that his condition had actually worsened due to budget restraints on the prison.
Michael, according to his family, has been suffering from recent ill health and needed medical treatment after a severe reaction to mosquito bites. Relatives claim Michaels general health has deteriorated since his incarceration in Lukiskes prison which, according to Professor Morgans report, is damp, overrun with vermin and lacks basic sanitary provision.
Please write a letter..
Michael Campbell
LUKISKES PRISON
Lukiskiu bstr. 6
Vilnius,LT 01108
Lithuania
Michael Campbell was arrested in Lithuania in 2008 for allegedly attempting to purchase arms for glaigh na hireann (commonly known as the Real IRA) although he maintains he traveled to Lithuania to purchase counterfeit cigarettes and is the victim of a set-up by Lithuanian and British authorities. Michael, whose brother Liam is currently in Maghaberry facing extradition to Lithuania, is from Dundalk Co. Louth and is currently imprisoned in Lukiskes Remand Prison in Vilnius. Michaels current status is relatively unknown; rumors of ill-health extending as far as him contracting malaria have been reported back, and while such information may seem shocking, a relative knowledge of Lithuanias prison system and authorities would easily soften the blow.
The prison is located in the center of Vilnius, capital of Lithuania, near the Lukikės Square. It houses approximately 1,000 prisoners and employs around 250 prison guards. Most of the prisoners are placed under temporary arrest awaiting court decisions or transfers to other detention facilities, but there is also a permanent prison with about 180 inmates; about 80 of them are sentenced for life. The Prison is over a century old and badly in need of investment and repair, built in 1904 it maintains a violent history with Prisoners having been massacred by the Russian NKVD during the German invasion of the Soviet Union.
The Lithuanian prison service and authorities in general are renowned for foul treatment of prisoners and citizens. Lithuanias role in torture is well known, having held several detainees who were rendered from Afghanistan via secret detention centres to Guantanamo bay. One of those secret detention centres was outside Vilnius where it is alleged Muslim prisoners were held outside of the legal process, so they could be tortured and in some cases allegedly killed. Media reports on a Muslim woman have come to light suggesting she was psychologically and physically ill-treated by Russian and Lithuanian intelligence agents. She testified on the 22nd July that 3 FSB agents routinely beat her and had done for months. A professor by the name of Rod Morgan who inspected the jail and whose findings were, like that of the Council of Europe Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT), horrendous. Prof. Morgan returned more recently but was denied full inspection of the facility; he met with Michael in his cell and stated that his condition had actually worsened due to budget restraints on the prison.
Michael, according to his family, has been suffering from recent ill health and needed medical treatment after a severe reaction to mosquito bites. Relatives claim Michaels general health has deteriorated since his incarceration in Lukiskes prison which, according to Professor Morgans report, is damp, overrun with vermin and lacks basic sanitary provision.
Please write a letter..