28th session of the UN Human Rights Council
Agenda item 3
Clustered interactive dialogue with Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
and Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
Intervention by the representative of Ukraine
(March 10, 2015)
Mr. President,
The delegation of Ukraine thanks the Special Rapporteurs for the presentation of their reports.
Commending efforts taken by the Special Rapporteur Mr. Juan E. Méndez for prohibition of torture, particularly with regard to children deprived of their liberty, we would like to use this opportunity to call on him to pay attention also to the appalling situation in the southeast of Ukraine where illegal armed groups supported by Russia continue to terrorize local population on the territories they temporary control.
Reports by reputable organizations, including the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission attest to shocking cases of torture and ill-treatment committed by militants of the so-called “Donetskand Luhansk People’s Republics”, including “using hammer to torture prisoners and surgery kit to scare and extract confessions from prisoners”, which in some cases resulted in death of detainees.
Last January, servicemen captured at Donetsk airport were forced to march through the streets of Donetsk, where several were physically assaulted by militants and onlookers.
And I cannot omit mentioning member of the Ukrainian Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Nadiya Savchenko who has been in detention in the Russian Federation under trumped-up charges since last July being captured in Ukraine.
Her, as well as others Ukrainian citizens unlawful detention and ill-treatment in Russia deserves attention of international human rights mechanisms.
To conclude, the delegation of Ukraine invites the Special Rapporteur Méndez to take a closer look at situation on the territory of the occupied Crimea where, in access denial for international observers, the unlawful so-called authorities continue to oppress human rights of local population, primarily Crimean Tatars and ethnic Ukrainians, resorting, inter alia, to ill-treatment and torture.
I thank you.