Just before presenting her report to the General Assembly, Mariana Katzarova, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation, spoke with Nargiz Shekinskaya,ONU Infoand emphasized that “torture is used as a state-sanctioned tool for systematic oppression, to maintain control, and to stifle dissent.”
According to his research, these are not isolated cases. Torture frequently targets political prisoners, critics of the ongoing war in Ukraine, and migrant communities around the world.
Normalization of torture
One of the report's most disturbing revelations is the depiction of torture in Russian media.
The independent expert described the aftermath of a March terrorist attack in Moscow, during which members of the Tajik minority “who have not yet been tried and have not been found guilty” were tortured at using electric shocks and mutilation.
We have a justice system here that is so influenced by politics that there is no justice for victims of torture
After the broadcast, there were reports of large-scale police searches, arrests and alleged abuse of migrant workers from Central Asia.
LGBTQIA+ people in Chechnya have also been brutally treated by state agents. Ms Katzarova reported that members of the LGBTQIA+ community were systematically detained, tortured and threatened with death if they did not agree to volunteer as soldiers in Ukraine.
Judicial impunity, lack of accountability
One of the main issues raised in the report is the failure of the Russian justice system to adequately prosecute torture cases.
Under Russian law, torture is not considered a separate criminal offense, allowing perpetrators to escape justice by bringing less serious charges such as “abuse of power or authority.”
“We have a justice system here that is so influenced by politics that there is no justice for victims of torture,” she said. Without recourse to the European Court of Human Rights, Russian victims can only rely on the United Nations system, which lacks the authority to take legal action.
Ms. Katzarova urged governments around the world to use their criminal justice systems to prosecute torture cases in Russia under universal jurisdiction, an international principle that allows courts to try cases regardless of where the crime was committed. clerk.
The Special Rapporteur, like all other independent United Nations human rights experts, works on a voluntary basis, is not a United Nations staff member and receives no salary for her work. Experts are appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council and are independent of any government or organization.
