ИСТИНА

The article examines the role of the non-governmental organizations which focus on the protection of human rights of persons who are being detained in penitentiary facilities. It is noted in the article that during the recent years it has become apparent that the non-governmental organizations played a more active role in the areas where numerous violations of human rights had been noticed, especially in the penitentiary system. Special attention is drawn to practical aspects of activities of the key players amongst the human rights protection organizations which were in turn boosted by the passing the Russian Federation law “On public control of human rights in the places of forced detention and on assistance to persons who are being forcefully detained. This Law is being looked at from a critical perspective.