In framework of permanent co-operation with authorized UN structures, our Association sent submission in November, 2023 to UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment Dr. Alice Edwards for her report “Good practices in national criminalization, investigation, prosecution and sentencing for offences of torture”.
ARC’s submission, prepared by Dr. Borys Babin and published in June 2023 on UN web-sources together with Rapporteur’s mentioned report A/HRC/52/30, stated that the challenges for investigating the tortures in Russia-occupied parts of Ukraine are connected with absence of access to such territories as for Ukraine’s legal enforcement bodies, so for the representatives of the international organizations and bodies, and that Russia-controlled structures make no “investigation” regarding tortures, committed on those territories, including the Crimea.
In Report A/HRC/52/30 Dr. Alice Edwards thanked for the submissions granted and called on all Governments to establish, empower and equip national investigative bodies to take action against torture in line with international standards and best practices.
More, Dr. Alice Edwards published on June 15 special press-release “Widespread use of torture by Russian military in Ukraine appears deliberate” together with UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence Fabián Salvioli, UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions Morris Tidball-Binz and UN Working Group on the use of mercenaries.
Press-release stated that UN Rapporteurs expressed alarm at reports and testimonies which indicate that Russian military forces in Ukraine are consistently and intentionally inflicting severe physical and psychological pain and suffering on Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of war.
“This torture is …being carried out to extract intelligence or to force confessions from detained individuals, or because of their former membership or support of the Ukrainian armed forces”, UN Rapporteur Edwards said in a letter to Russia. Press-release pointed that Dr. Alice Edwards plans to visit Ukraine to conduct a fact-finding inquiry later this year as part of her mandate. ARC will continue its co-operation with UN special rapporteurs.
