The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Alice Gill Edwards, has stated that torture used by Russian security forces against Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of war is a systematic practice approved by the Russian state.
Source: RFI with reference to The New York Times.
"This torture is not some random, anomalous behavior. It is organized as part of a state policy of intimidation, fear or punishment to obtain information and testimony," the UN special rapporteur said on Saturday after a seven-day trip to Ukraine.
According to her, witnesses shared credible evidence that confirmed the constant use of torture by the Russian military and other security forces, including rape and beatings in detention centers.
Ukrainian soldiers held in captivity by the Russian Federation suffered from weight loss due to starvation while in detention. One of the released Ukrainian soldiers said he lost 40 kilograms in Russian captivity and turned gray there.
Some of those the UN Special Rapporteur spoke to described how their fellow soldiers had died in custody from beatings or unbearable conditions.
Edwards also met with a woman who said she had suffered two heart attacks in detention after being tortured and after being forced to watch her son being tortured.
Alice Gill Edwards noted that she had appealed to the Russian authorities at least seven times, trying to draw their attention to the actions of Russian security forces, but had not received a response. According to Edwards, the lack of response from the Russian authorities to the numerous cases of torture is tantamount to their tacit approval.
In November 2022, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights released a report on the treatment of prisoners of war during Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine. It states, in particular, that most of the former Ukrainian prisoners of war interviewed by the Office reported torture and ill-treatment in Russian captivity.
Background. Earlier it was reported that the UN commission found no signs of genocide in Ukraine. However, according to the head of the commission, the investigation will continue.