DIGNITY factsheets examine access to justice for pre-trial detainees in Ukraine and Greece
The DIGNITY project has published new country factsheets on access to justice for people in pre-trial detention in Ukraine and Greece, highlighting key figures, legal safeguards and persistent barriers to exercising rights in detention.
In Ukraine, 37,119 people were held in prison as of 1 January 2025, with an incarceration rate of 98 per 100,000 inhabitants. According to Council of Europe data cited in the factsheet, 9,521 people (25.64%) were in pre-trial detention, below the European average of 29.4%. Prison density was 53.9 inmates per 100 places, while foreign nationals accounted for 1.9% of the prison population.
The factsheet identifies significant barriers to complaints and legal remedies. Although correspondence with courts, prosecutors, the Ombudsman and defence lawyers is formally exempt from censorship, monitoring found that in 12 institutions no sealed appeals reached these bodies during the monitoring period, while in another 19 institutions fewer than five appeals were recorded. Detainees who complain may also face retaliation.
At the same time, Ukraine has introduced important safeguards. A new Detention Conditions Commission can review complaints about detention conditions submitted by detainees, relatives or lawyers, with its decisions subject to judicial appeal. The factsheet also notes that defence lawyers must be able to meet detainees confidentially and without limits on the number or duration of meetings.
For comparison, in Greece, pre-trial detainees spend an average of 28.3 months on remand, placing the country in the “very high” category compared with other European countries. Pre-trial detainees account for 27.6% of the prison population, while the average prison occupancy rate is 114%. The research also identifies gaps in legal aid for detention-related complaints, including an annual income threshold of around €6,000 and a 48-hour application deadline at the pre-trial stage.
The country research shows that effective access to justice depends not only on formal legal safeguards but also on whether people in detention can actually use complaint mechanisms safely and access legal assistance. The Ukraine factsheet therefore recommends strengthening confidential communication with oversight bodies, preventing retaliation against complainants and ensuring sustainable support for civil society organisations working with detainees.
Read the full country factsheets: Ukraine and Greece.
The DIGNITY Project promotes the implementation of the European Commission Recommendation on detention through a cross-sectoral approach involving legal professionals, civil society organisations and National Preventive Mechanisms from Greece, Portugal and Ukraine, together with partners from 19 EU Member States and Council of Europe member states. It is co-funded by the European Union. More information about the DIGNITY Project and its activities is available on its LinkedIn page.
