"The UN independent experts also noted that Ukraine has made progress in improving conditions of detention in the country, in particular through reducing overcrowding in pre-trial detention centres. The increasing use of non-custodial measures during the pre-trial stages of criminal proceedings is a positive step forward, noted the experts," the UN body said in a statement.
This is the experts' second visit to Ukraine. They could not produce a conclusive report after the first one in May due to the inaccessibility of certain places.
"We were pleased to be able to complete our visit by finally accessing to the SBU facilities, where persons are deprived of their liberty. This has greatly assisted our ability to produce a comprehensive report, which will be transmitted to the authorities as soon as possible," Malcolm Evans, SPT chair and head of the delegation, was quoted as saying in the statement.
The Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture entered into force in 2006 and was ratified by 81 countries including Ukraine.
