Colony No 8 in Bender forms part of the penitentiary system of the Republic of Moldova, but is located in an area under the control of the Transnistrian region. That region of the Republic of Moldova unilaterally declared itself an independent republic in 1991.

The visit was carried out by two members of the CPT, Andres LEHTMETS, an Estonian psychiatrist and First Vice-President of the CPT (Head of delegation), and Mario FELICE, a Maltese lawyer. They were supported by Jan MALINOWSKI of the CPT's Secretariat.

In the course of its visit, the CPT's delegation met Vasile DOLGHIERU, Minister for Justice of the Republic of Moldova, Victoria IFTODI, Deputy Minister for Justice, and Valentin SEREDA, Director General of Prison Services. The delegation also had meetings with the authorities of the Transnistrian region and the Bender municipal authorities.