Soviet-era police vans are still in use on the streets of modern Russia. But rights activists say the vehicles are so uncomfortable they should not be used to detain or transport suspects. Others believe they act as deterrent to would-be criminals.

Few would welcome a journey in one of these mean machines. But Ernest Mezak, a human rights activist from Syktyvkar, had no choice.

Last winter the Memorial Human Rights activist was picked up on suspicion of hooliganism. Police put him put him into the back of the van to take him to the station.
 
“I was put into the back. It was very cold that day and there was no heating. The temperature where I was held was no more than outside,” Mezak said.

Ernest had done nothing wrong and was released. Later he went to court claiming the conditions in which he was held were inhumane.

His lawyers are backing up their case by claiming police broke rules in the arrest.

“He was the third detained person in the vehicle, while police regulations allow only two. But even these regulations are illegal as technically these vehicles permit only cargo transportation in this compartment. You can have dogs there, but not people,” lawyer Aleksandr Strotsky said.

But though the court ruled in Ernest’s favour, the question still remains – whether the situation is going to change for the better in the near future.

A police officer called Yury from Syktyvkar thinks not.

“We’ve been using these vehicles for decades. Obviously they're not luxury, but they correspond with regulations. There’s light and places for the detained to sit,” he said.

The cars are still patrolling the streets of Russian cities.