In what is described as an open letter, Swedish prisoners at Tartu Prison in Estonia criticize their conditions there. The letter was published by the Prison Service Magazine.
The letter describes, among other things, shortcomings in food, work and hygiene, as well as perceived racism, with white and dark-skinned prisoners allegedly treated differently.
It also emphasizes that those sent to Estonia are inmates who behaved well in Sweden.
Slow start
According to the Swedish Prison and Probation Service, 41 Swedish inmates have so far been transferred to the prison in Estonia.
After a slow start, during which Estonian authorities turned down many of the inmates Sweden had intended to transfer, they have formally denied permission for transfers since September, according to the Swedish Prison and Probation Service.
"This is because we have a dialogue between the countries about, among other things, crime categories, before the Swedish Prison and Probation Service's formal request is sent," says Niklas Bellström, a unit head at the Swedish Prison and Probation Service.
Under the agreement with Sweden, those being transferred must not be gang criminals, have misbehaved or pose security risks. And there are still fewer inmates who can be transferred to Estonia than planned, according to Bellström.
It is unclear how widespread dissatisfaction is among the Swedish inmates who have been transferred to Tartu. It is also unclear how many people are behind the open letter, which is unsigned and attributed only to “some of the inmates at Tartu prison.”
The prisoners’ comments include claims that they receive too little protein, that there are only three showers for more than 40 inmates, that the mattresses are thin, and that they are locked in their cells for two hours a day - one hour at lunch and one hour at dinner. "In which prisons in Sweden does this happen?" they ask in the letter.
“Equal rights”
They also claim that they have not yet been assigned any work, despite having been in prison for more than a month.
"We want to be heard; we are not looking for sympathy. We have committed crimes in Sweden, and we should have the same rights and conditions as you get in a Swedish prison," the letter says.
TT is seeking comment from the Swedish Prison and Probation Service on the alleged shortcomings.
Sweden signed an agreement to rent prison places from Estonia because of a shortage of places in Swedish prisons. The first transfer took place on August 18.
According to the Swedish Prison and Probation Service, the goal remains to have 600 Swedish prisoners in Estonia by next summer.
Built in the early 2000s.
Space for 933 inmates.
Sweden has signed an agreement with Estonia to place up to 600 inmates in Tartu.
The agreement is for five years, with an option to extend it for a further three years.
Sweden pays 8,500 euros per inmate per month, with a minimum of 300 inmates per year. This means a minimum annual cost of just over 330 million kronor (about $31 million).
In Sweden, the cost per inmate per month is just over 11,000 euros.