UN point to problems with investigation of torture in Northern Caucasus

Russian authorities should objectively investigate kidnappings and facts of torture in Northern Caucasus, and ensure the safety of rights defenders, state the recommendations of the Committee Against Torture (CAT) of the United Nations. The UN reports are important, but authorities do not always consider them, said Svetlana Gannushkina, the head of the Civil Assistance Committee, and Sergey Davidis, a board member of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial".

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Claude Heller, a UN CAT's member, described the situation in Northern Caucasus as causing "serious concern," as extrajudicial executions, torture and kidnappings are not investigated there.

The UN CAT is concerned that only two cases of forced disappearances have been investigated in Chechnya in 2012-2015, although the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) issued more than 100 decisions on such cases during the same period.

The CAT is also concerned about reports of attacks and repressions against human rights defenders, journalists and advocates, and authorities' unwillingness to bring those responsible to justice. The attack on journalists and rights defenders committed in Chechnya in March 2016 during a press tour, as well as the arrest of Oyub Titiev, the head of the Grozny office of the HRC "Memorial", were specifically noted.

The reports of the UN CAT indicate the opinion of the today's most respected international organization, Ms Gannushkina and Mr Davidis believe.

According to Sergey Davidis, to make CAT's reports more efficient, the international community should pay more attention to the problem of torture.