On December 27, human rights activists from the North Caucasus branch of the Team Against Torture (CAT) spoke about the reaction their report “The Arithmetic of Torture,” which analyzed cases of violence by security forces, caused among the regional authorities. The parliament of Chechnya distinguished itself most of all - an anonymous answer with insults came from there.
The CPT report “The Arithmetic of Torture: North Caucasus Federal District” was published on September 26. It analyzed 23 attempts to obtain an investigation into the illegal actions of security forces. As a rule, in response to a complaint, a refusal to initiate criminal proceedings is immediately issued. After several “refusal” decisions, lawyers still managed to insist on the initiation of criminal cases on 15 facts of torture. In some cases, they had to appeal investigators’ refusals 20 times. According to human rights activists, over the 19 years of their work in the North Caucasus, they have never managed to bring security forces to justice under a criminal article for abuse of power. At the same time, they were able to obtain compensation for harm through the European Court for several victims of police violence.
As noted by the head of the North Caucasus branch of the checkpoint, Ekaterina Vanslova, the “torture” statistics in different regions of the country are largely similar, which indicates the systemic nature of the problems in the security bloc.
The paper version of the report was sent to 68 recipients: heads of regions, heads of law enforcement agencies, deputies, ombudsmen, and leaders of political parties. It caused mixed reactions.
Thus, the Public Chamber of Ingushetia thanked the “Team against Torture” for its work. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Dagestan assured that the department is working with personnel to prevent cruel treatment of detainees. The authorities of Karachay-Cherkessia stated that “torture is not systemic in nature.” The Commissioner for Human Rights in Kabardino-Balkaria replied that he had not received any complaints of torture.
The report sent to the head of the Chechen parliament Magomed Daudov was returned. Attached to it was a sheet without any identification marks. The anonymous letter read: “Your team is a perverted community of figures who sold their souls to Satan, represented by the State Department, for 30 pieces of silver! For this reason, go to hell, you corrupt skins!!!”
The checkpoint perceived this response as a form of pressure.
A total of 37 responses were received, including from two regional heads. The head of Karachay-Cherkessia, Rashid Temrezov, noted that the republic is taking all measures to respect constitutional rights. The head of Kabardino-Balkaria, Kazbek Kokov, wrote that “torture is a gross violation of human rights, the ban on it is unconditional, and impunity threatens the entire justice system.”
“I am somewhat disappointed with the content of the responses received,” commented Ekaterina Vanslova. — In a number of appeals, we offered to give our assessment of the situation with torture in the region and were ready to come to a personal meeting to work out joint ways to solve the problem. Only the prosecutor's office of Kabardino-Balkaria invited us to a personal reception, which was extremely formal. Separately, I would like to say about the anonymous response, presumably from Daudov or someone from his reception. Article 21 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation directly prohibits torture and other degrading treatment. It turns out that the anonymous addressee from Chechnya insults human rights defenders who fight against this same torture and defend constitutional rights, including in the Chechen Republic. We consider these kinds of responses from officials unacceptable and representing a form of putting pressure on human rights defenders in the region.”
The “Team Against Torture” (previously the organization was called the “Committee against Torture”; the re-registration occurred in connection with the recognition of the NGO as a foreign agent) has been working in the North Caucasus since 2003. Its representative offices are also in Moscow, Krasnodar Territory, Orenburg and Nizhny Novgorod regions.
Half a month after the publication of the report, CPT lawyers announced their first victory in the North Caucasus: the Khasavyurt City Court of the Republic of Dagestan sentenced two police officers; they were found guilty of torture and falsification of evidence and received 3.5 years in prison.