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We have more details this morning on allegations of torture carried out by Russian military forces, expanding on suggestions it may be “state-endorsed”.
UN experts have raised concerns over what appears to be planned, authorised and deliberate torture of Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of war.
The group wrote to the Russian government over allegations of electric shocks, hoodings and mock executions used to extract intelligence or force confessions.
Damage to internal organs, cracked bones and fractures, strokes and psychological traumas were reported, they said.
The consistency and methods of alleged torture suggested “a level of coordination, planning and organisation, as well as the direct authorisation, deliberate policy or official tolerance from superior authorities”, according to UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Alice Jill Edwards, who sent the letter on 12 June alongside several other independent experts.
“Torture is a war crime, and the systematic or widespread practice of torture constitutes a crime against humanity,” she said.
“Obeying a superior order or policy direction cannot be invoked as justification for torture, and any individual involved should be promptly investigated and prosecuted by independent authorities.
“If [the allegations are] established, they would constitute individual violations and may also amount to a pattern of State-endorsed torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”
Under the UN system, a government has 60 days to give a formal response to the letter, but Russia’s diplomatic mission in Geneva has not responded to a request for comment.
Moscow has previously denied torturing or mistreating prisoners of war and says it does not deliberately target civilians.
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