News Release
30 June 2003
Russian Federation: A Step in the Right Direction
Amnesty International welcomes the decision of the Russian government to authorize
the publication today of one of the reports of the European Committee for the
Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT)
concerning its visit to the Russian Federation.
"This is a first step in the right direction that may help curb torture, cruel,
inhuman and degrading treatment of people deprived of their liberty in the Russian
Federation," the human rights organization said.
"Amnesty International's research reveals that torture and ill-treatment of
people in detention is widespread. In the Chechen Republic this practice is
often accompanied by 'disappearances'. We are hoping that the publication of
this report will lead to more accountability and indicates a willingness on
the part of the Russian authorities to take measures to prevent torture and
to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice," the organization added.
The CPT is the independent and impartial expert body established by the European
Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment
or Punishment, a treaty which the Russian Federation ratified in 1998. CPT delegations
have so far made 11 visits to different regions of the country. Six of these
visits, including the last one between 23 and 29 May 2003, have been to the
Chechen Republic.
"Amnesty International calls on the authorities in the Russian Federation to
send a clear message to the law enforcement agencies and security forces that
they must respect human rights in all circumstances, and that those who do not
will be made to answer for their actions in a court of law," the organization
added.
From the start of its current year-long campaign aimed at improving respect
and protection of human rights of all people in the Russian Federation Amnesty
International has been calling on the Russian authorities to authorize the publication
of all reports of the CPT's visits.
The organization strongly urges the Russian government to:
Make public the reports of all CPT's visits to the Russian Federation; Take
all necessary measures to implement the CPT's recommendations without delay;
Inform the public about measures it is taking to implement CPT's recommendations.
Background
The Russian Federation became a party to the European Convention for the Prevention
of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment in 1998. The European
Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment (CPT), established by the Convention, is comprised of independent
and impartial experts, whose visits and recommendations aim to protect detainees
from torture, cruel and inhuman treatment. The reports of CPT visits and recommendations
are confidential: they can be published only with the consent of the government
in question.
The Russian Federation was the last of the states parties to the European Convention
Against Torture to authorize the publication of one of the CPT's reports.
It is only on exceptional occasions that the CPT releases public statements
regarding its concerns in a particular country. The lack of response to its
recommendations relating to the Chechen Republic from the Russian government
prompted the CPT to take the exceptional step in July 2001 to publish a public
statement. The statement expressed the CPT's concern about the impasse it had
reached with the Russian Federation on two issues, namely the carrying out of
a thorough and independent inquiry into events in a detention facility at Chernokozovo
detention centre during the period December 1999 to early February 2000, following
information strongly indicating that many detainees had been ill-treated; and
action taken to uncover and prosecute cases of ill-treatment of detainees in
the Chechen Republic during the current conflict.
Compelling information gathered by Amnesty International over recent years from
victims and other sources attests to the widespread use of torture and ill-treatment
by law-enforcement officials across the Russian Federation:
Zelimkhan Murdalov left his home in the Chechen capital Grozny on 2 January
2001, saying he would be back in an hour. That was the last time his family
ever saw him. His father discovered that a young man matching his description
had been detained in the centre of the city. Police told him that his son was
detained on charges of possessing cannabis and was later released. However,
detainees who had been held in the same cell as Zelimkhan Murdalov reportedly
said that when they saw him a day after his arrest he was unconscious after
being severely beaten, and his body was mutilated. A criminal case was opened
in January 2001 into Zelimkhan Murdalov's 'disappearance', but his father still
does not know the fate or whereabouts of his son and the perpetrators have not
yet been brought to justice.
Eighteen-year old Tigran Airapetian was detained by a police officer in 2001
in northern Moscow. He was accused of demanding money from an acquaintance in
a dispute over a mobile telephone. Tigran Airapetian was taken to a police station
where he was reportedly severely beaten. After his release he filed a complaint
and the Butyrskii procuracy opened a criminal investigation into the allegations.
Despite Tigran Airapetian giving detailed descriptions and the names of the
three men he identified as responsible, the Butyrskii procurator closed the
preliminary investigations "until the persons accused of the offence are identified".
In September 2001 Tigran Airapetian filed a complaint with the European Court
of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France, claiming that his rights under the European
Convention for the Protection of Human
Rights had been violated.
Amnesty International continues to receive reports about "disappearances" of
persons in Chechnya. Press reports indicate that about two people per day continue
to "disappear".
Source: Source: Amnesty International, International Secretariat, 1 Easton Street,
WC1X 8DJ, London, United Kingdom
Contact your nearest Amnesty International office for more information