Prosecutor's offices of the Vitebsk region have carried out inspections of compliance with legislation in the sphere of protection of the rights and legitimate interests of the elderly and disabled.

The prosecutor's offices of the Vitebsk region conducted inspections of compliance with legislation in the sphere of protection of the rights and legitimate interests of persons residing in state institutions providing stationary social services for the elderly and disabled. The results showed that the work of local executive, administrative and other state bodies, and stationary institutions in the specified sphere does not fully meet the requirements.

Despite previously identified shortcomings in the activities of the specified institutions, which occurred during the processing of personal files of citizens, facts of violation of living space area standards, fire safety rules, sanitary norms and rules, similar violations have been re-established.

For example, an inspection revealed that in the state social service institution "Orsha Boarding House for the Elderly and Disabled," special residential premises were provided at a rate of less than 7 square meters per person, which indicates a violation of the social rights of elderly citizens. Thus, two people live in a room with an area of 8.9 sq. m (area per resident is 4.5 sq. m). Similarly, a room with an area of 15.4 sq. m houses three people (area per resident is 5 sq. m).

In the state social service institution "Maksimovsky Psychoneurological Boarding House for the Elderly and Disabled," only 7 out of 57 rooms meet the area standards, which is a violation of clause 29 of the Sanitary Norms and Rules "Requirements for Social Service Institutions Providing Stationary and Semi-Stationary Social Services," approved by the Resolution of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus dated 31.12.2013 No. 136.

In the vast majority of boarding houses in the region, violations of sanitary and epidemiological legislation requirements for the maintenance and operation of industrial and auxiliary premises, equipment, and sanitary and household facilities, and ensuring safe working conditions for personnel have been identified. To date, compliance with fire safety requirements has not been ensured.

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During the inspection, isolated cases were identified where residents were transferred without proper grounds from regular nursing homes to the State Public Social Welfare Institution "Yakovichi Special Nursing Home for the Elderly and Disabled." This institution is specialized and intended for the accommodation of individuals, including persons without a fixed place of residence, who require constant care, and who have previously been held criminally and administratively liable.

Furthermore, when deciding on the transfer of residents to the special nursing home, the legal requirements were not always considered. These requirements stipulate that transfers are to be made for individuals who violate public order, as well as those who systematically and grossly violate internal regulations and have repeatedly faced administrative penalties.

Provisions of local acts regulating temporary departures of citizens for personal reasons were not duly executed. In several instances, citizens left the nursing home without a written application, failing to specify their exact address during the entire period of temporary absence and without undertaking an obligation to ensure their care.

It was noted that, for example, the absence of a fence along the entire perimeter of the State Public Social Welfare Institution "Orsha Nursing Home for the Elderly and Disabled" clearly facilitates unimpeded departures by residents and also contributes to theft, including by the nursing home's employees.

An analysis of the results of inspections of nursing homes, including those conducted by supervisory bodies, revealed that the management of social institutions does not pay adequate attention to rectifying identified violations of sanitary-epidemiological, fire safety, and other legislation. The Committee for Labor, Employment, and Social Protection of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee also lacks proper principledness in addressing these issues concerning the heads of nursing homes.

Based on the results of the inspections conducted by the prosecutor's offices of the Vitebsk region, 5 submissions were made, and an instruction was issued to prepare a case on an administrative offense under Part 1 of Article 23.56 of the Code of Administrative Offenses.

Republic of Belarus, including a representation submitted to the Chairperson of the Committee for Labor, Employment and Social Protection of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee.

Given the relevance of the issue of ensuring the protection of the rights and legitimate interests of the elderly and disabled, meeting their needs for social support and social services, and improving the level of safe living for such citizens, the prosecutor's offices of the Vitebsk region will continue to monitor the implementation of legislation on the social protection of disabled persons and the elderly, including with regard to compliance with the standards for living conditions, the level of social services, psychological and other support for disabled persons, and the unlawful restriction of the rights of such citizens to freedom of movement.

Prosecutor of the Department for Supervision of Legislation Enforcement and Legality of Legal Acts, Natalia Kolpakova.