5.  The applicant was born in 1947 and lives in Simferopol. 6.  On 19 June 1999 the applicant was arrested on suspicion of theft and abuse of power. 7.  On 23 June 1999 the applicant was placed in the Simferopol Temporary Detention Centre No. 15 (the “Simferopol SIZO”). 8.  On 9 February 2000 the applicant was released on bail subject to an undertaking not to abscond. According to the applicant, he was released because of his poor state of health. 9.  On 21 February 2000 the applicant was hospitalised. He was found to suffer from second degree hypertension, hyperpiesia, and other vascular diseases, and underwent medical treatment until 3 March 2000. 10.  On 23 March 2000 the prosecutors decided to arrest the applicant on the same charges of theft and abuse of power. On 24 March 2000 the applicant was placed in the Simferopol SIZO. 11.  On the latter day the applicant was examined by a paramedic, a general practitioner and a dermatologist, who all noted in the medical records, submitted by the Government, that the applicant did not have complaints about his state of health. The paramedic noted that the applicant suffered from coronary heart disease and that he had to be further examined by a doctor. The general practitioner noted that the applicant suffered from coronary heart disease and angina of effort. The dermatologist noted that the applicant was healthy. 12.  According to the same records, on 20 September 2000 the applicant was further examined by a general practitioner and a dermatologist. They both noted that the applicant did not have complaints about his state of health. On 24 March, 24 September, and 27 November 2000 the applicant underwent three X-ray examinations, none of which revealed any pathological changes in his heart or lungs. 13.  In his letter of 29 March 2000, the applicant requested the President of the Zaliznodorozhnyy District Court of Simferopol to release him on bail, alleging unlawfulness of his detention. The applicant maintained that he suffered from vascular diseases, stomach ulcer, and adenoma of the prostate, and that he required urgent medical treatment, which he could not receive in the Simferopol SIZO. On 17 April, 15 May 2000 the applicant made similar submissions to the General Prosecutor of Ukraine and the President of the Tsentralnyy District Court of Simferopol, respectively. 14.  On 30 March 2000 the applicant's lawyer challenged before the Zaliznodorozhnyy District Court the decision of 23 March 2000. On 28 April 2000 the court refused to consider the lawyer's complaint on the ground that the criminal case against the applicant had been submitted to the Tsentralnyy District Court for consideration. The Zaliznodorozhnyy District Court further held that its decision was final and was not subject to appeal. 15.  According to the Government, on 27 November 2000 the applicant requested medical aid and was immediately examined by a doctor, who found that the applicant suffered from a severe respiratory tract infection. The applicant received the necessary treatment, so that on 29 November 2000 the medical examination did not reveal any symptoms of such illness. 16.  On 1 December 2000 the applicant was released from the Simferopol SIZO. 17.  On 13 February 2002 the applicant was placed in a hospital, where he underwent an abdominal surgery. According to the medical records of 2003, submitted by the applicant, he suffered from several vascular and stomach diseases. 18.  The applicant stated that he had been detained in the cells of around 14 square metres, which had been occupied by 16-17 inmates at the same time, some of whom had suffered from tuberculosis and AIDS. The applicant had had to take turns to sleep because there had been not enough beds. The natural light or fresh air virtually did not go through because of the shutters on the windows and the windows' size, while the electric light was very poor and it was on all the time. The cells were dirty and infested with pests, cockroaches and bedbugs. There was no access to hot water in the cells and cold water did not reach the cells higher than those on the forth floor. There was no heating in the cells. 19.  The applicant maintained that he had had daily walks which were limited to 35-40 minutes outside in an area not larger than a cell. The area was not protected from direct sunlight. The applicant also stated that he had not been able to purchase medicines or enough food from outside of the SIZO, while the quality of food provided in the SIZO had been unsatisfactory. 20.  The applicant further maintained that he had spent several hours in the special cells for detainees in transit, which measured 12 square meters, together with around 54 other persons, the majority of whom had been smoking. These cells were deprived of natural light and fresh air. 21.  The Government submitted that from 24 March until 6 April 2000 the applicant was detained together with 7-9 other detainees in the cell no. 78, which measured 12 square metres; from 6 April until 5 May 2000 – in the cell no. 159 of 18.1 square meters together with 8-12 other detainees; and from 10 July until 29 August 2000 – in the cell no. 79 of 44 square meters occupied by 20 persons. The Government acknowledged the problem of overcrowding in the Simferopol SIZO at the material time. They however maintained that the cells were equipped with the necessary number of beds, lavatories, tables, chairs, electric light, etc. There were windows which allowed access of daylight and fresh air. In general, the conditions of the applicant's detention corresponded to the relevant hygiene and sanitation standards. The Government submitted photographs of several cells in the Simferopol SIZO which had been taken in July 2004. 22.  The Government further maintained that the applicant had had daily walks for one hour and an eight hours' non-stop sleep a day. 23.  On 14 July 2000 the Tsentralnyy District Court of Simferopol found the applicant guilty of aggravated theft and abuse of power, and sentenced him to four years' imprisonment under a special high security regime (“посиленого режиму”). The court also ordered confiscation of the applicant's property and deprived him of the right to occupy positions involving administrative functions for three years. 24.  On 29 August 2000 the Supreme Court of the Autonomous Republic Crimea upheld the decision of 14 July 2000. 25.  On the same day the Governor of the Simferopol SIZO, upon the applicant's motion, allowed him to work as an employee at the maintenance department of the Simferopol SIZO, while serving his sentence. According to the records submitted by the Government, the applicant's entire remuneration for his work at the Simferopol SIZO had been used to cover his expenses for food and other everyday necessities. 26.  On an unspecified date the President of the Supreme Court of the Autonomous Republic Crimea lodged a request with the Presidium of that court, seeking initiation of supervisory review of the case. 27.  On 1 December 2000 the Presidium allowed the request and partly changed the decisions of 14 July and 29 August 2000. It found the applicant guilty of abuse of power and sentenced him to three years' imprisonment. The Presidium also deprived him of the right to occupy positions involving administrative functions for three years. It further released the applicant from serving his prison sentence on the ground that he suffered from vascular diseases and that he was not dangerous to the society.