Russia's policy - Kremlin allows to torture Ukrainians
The torture by Russian security forces of Ukrainians is part of the Kremlin's policy (photo: Getty Images)
Tortures employed by Russian officers against Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of war in occupied territories have reached a level that clearly constitutes systematic and state-sanctioned policy, states the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture, Alice Jill Edwards, according to The New York Times.
According to her, witnesses have provided credible accounts that confirm the ongoing practice of torture, including rape and beatings, in various places of detention under Russian occupation and among Ukrainian soldiers captured by Russian forces.
"This is not random, aberrant behavior. This is orchestrated as part of state policy to intimidate, instill fear or punish to extract information and confessions," Edwards stated.
She noted that the Kremlin's lack of response to numerous cases of violence against detainees and prisoners is equivalent to silent approval of torture.
"Russian authorities have failed so far to send a directive to their soldiers and the military command informing them that torture and such types of detentions and interrogations are not acceptable. They deny they do it, but show me the military directive where torture is prohibited," added the UN Special Rapporteur.
The UN rejects the genocide of Ukrainians
Recently, the Head of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine at the United Nations, Eric Meser, stated that the organization has not yet concluded that genocide is taking place in Ukraine.
According to him, the commission does not have sufficient evidence that would meet the legal qualification under the Genocide Convention.
