The United Nations Committee Against Torture has come out with strong criticism of Russia for failing to take effective action against widespread reports of torture and other abuse.
The report on Russia’s compliance with the 1987 treaty against torture and other degrading punishments also raised concerns about the failure of Russian authorities to investigate and prosecute cases of what the committee called “numerous and consistent reports of serious acts of intimidation, reprisals, threats against human rights defenders and journalists."
The panel of 10 independent experts expressed concern at the discrepancy between the high number of complaints of torture and ill treatment that have been reported by detainees in Russia, and the relatively low number of criminal cases opened by authorities in response that led to prosecution.
The report on Russia’s compliance with the 1987 treaty against torture and other degrading punishments also raised concerns about the failure of Russian authorities to investigate and prosecute cases of what the committee called “numerous and consistent reports of serious acts of intimidation, reprisals, threats against human rights defenders and journalists."
The panel of 10 independent experts expressed concern at the discrepancy between the high number of complaints of torture and ill treatment that have been reported by detainees in Russia, and the relatively low number of criminal cases opened by authorities in response that led to prosecution.