The SecurOS software developed by Russia’s ISS group is used in the surveillance system at Moscow’s Butyrka pretrial detention center, according to an investigation by Current Time based on academic publications by employees of Russia’s Federal Penitentiary Service academy and corporate records.
SecurOS is mentioned in a research paper by academy employees examining the introduction of surveillance technologies at Butyrka. According to the publication, the software is used as part of an incident management system.
Since late 2022, the detention center has been testing a project known as “Digital Pretrial Detention Center.” According to the Federal Penitentiary Service, more than 350 AI-enabled cameras can identify six types of incidents, including fights, attempted escapes and suicides, smoke and reduced visibility.
Current Time found that SecurOS was developed by the ISS group founded by businessman Roman Zharkoy. He is the sole owner of ISS-Soft LLC, which holds the rights to the SecurOS trademark.
The outlet also identified links between Zharkoy and the U.S.-based company Intelligent Security Systems. He previously headed the Russian company ISS Trading House, which was owned by the U.S.-registered Intelligent Security Systems. Zharkoy is listed on the American company’s website as its director of innovation.
The U.S. company also offers intelligent video surveillance systems under the SecurOS brand. Current Time sent questions to the company about its ties to the Russian ISS and the use of its technology in Russian prison facilities, but had not received a response by the time of publication.