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In Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area, former staffer of Dobry Volshebnik rehab to stand trial for unsafe services and causing bodily harm to inmate

The Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area – Yugra Office of the Investigative Committee has finished the investigation against former teacher of Dobry Volshebnik rehabilitation center Nadezhda Shanayeva. She is charged with crimes under Part 1 of Article 238 of the RF Penal Code and Part 2, item “c” of Article 112 (provision of services that do not meet safety standards and deliberate causing of medium-range bodily harm to a minor who is known by the perpetrator to be in helpless state).

As became known earlier, on 16 may 2016, footage of surveillance cameras from inside Dobry Volzhebnik (Kind Wizard) rehabilitation center for children with disabilities located in the town of Surgut were published through a number of media. On the video you can see how a teacher of the center is holding a boy by arms and is beating him, while a social worker of the center gives the 7-year-old a blow on his head. The case was opened following the order of Chairman of the Investigative Committee Alexander Bastrykin.

A lot of investigative and other procedural operations have been done: the victim was medically examined, the footage published in media was confiscated, all documents of the rehabilitation center were confiscated and processed, over 130 people, including parents of the children, the staff of the rehabilitation center and other individuals who have information relevant for the investigation were questioned within a month. The examination of the surveillance recorder showed that there was no footage on cameras set up in rooms where the children stay. The recorder was processed and the previously deleted videos (over 2 weeks of uninterrupted footage from 19 cameras) were restored.

At the same time the investigators arranged for inspectorates to check the rehab for conformity of its activity to the requirements and for observance of rights and legal interests of its inmates. The check revealed some violations for which the rehab represented by its acting director was held administratively liable under Part 3 of Article 19.20 of the RF Administrative Offence Code (activity not connected with making profit with gross violation of requirements and conditions provided for by a special permit (license) if this special permit (silence) is required).

The investigators have enough evidence, so the criminal case with the approved indictment will soon be referred to court. The investigation against the social worker of the facility charged with battery was finished earlier and has been referred to court.

The investigation against former director of the rehab and head of the day care department suspected of negligence is ongoing and is under control of the senior officials of the local investigative authority.