UN Report Suggests Russian State Policy of Torture in Ukraine

Reports of widespread use of torture by Russian forces in Ukraine may indicate that severe abuse of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians is “state-endorsed” by Moscow, says UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Alice Jill Edwards. The alleged practices include electric shocks, beatings, hooding, mock executions, and other threats of death. Edwards and other UN rights experts have voiced their concerns in a letter to Moscow. Torture is a war crime, and the systematic or widespread practice of torture constitutes a crime against humanity.