| NCJ Number: |
184700  |
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| Title: |
Confessions at Any Cost: Police Torture in Russia |
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| Document: |
HTML |
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| Date Published: |
1999 |
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| Annotation: |
Based on 2 years of research in cities and towns across Russia,
this Human Rights Watch report documents rampant police torture
and ill-treatment of detainees in custody.
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| Abstract: |
More than 50 interviews with torture victims and dozens of
interviews with lawyers, relatives, former police officers,
judges, and procurators in five regions of Russia document the
systematic use of torture and ill-treatment as a means to coerce
confessions and other testimony from criminal suspects. Some
knowledgeable sources, including Russia's Federal human rights
ombudsman and a leading Russian judge, estimate that up to 50
percent of criminal suspects in Russia may be subjected to
torture or ill-treatment. The most widespread method of police
torture in Russia is prolonged beating. Asphyxiation, suspension
by the arms or legs, and electroshock are also common. In
addition, police use trusted prisoners in pretrial cells as
proxies to beat and threaten suspects into cooperating with an
investigation. Police almost always combine physical torture with
threats of further physical harm and other psychological abuse.
In some cases, torture has led to the victim's death or permanent
disability. Even in the face of incontestable evidence of abuse,
police are rarely held accountable. Courts commonly accept forced
confessions at face value and use them as evidence for
convictions. The government dismisses torture or ill-treatment as
problems in Russia and has taken no measures to end these abusive
practices. Human Rights Watch calls on the Russian government to
develop a comprehensive public plan to combat police torture and
ill-treatment. This should include the input and cooperation of
the relevant ministries and nongovernmental organizations.
Appended human rights statements by international organizations
as well as relevant correspondence
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| Main Term(s): |
Police Brutality |
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| Index Term(s): |
Confessions; Foreign police; Human rights; Human rights violations; Probationers rights; Russian Federation; Torture |
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| Publication Number: |
ISBN 1-56432-244-0 |
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| Sponsoring Agency: |
Human Rights Watch
New York, NY 10118-3299 |
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| Corporate Author: |
Human Rights Watch
United States of America |
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| Sale Source: |
Human Rights Watch
350 Fifth Avenue
34th Floor
New York, NY 10118-3299
United States of America |
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| Publisher: |
http://www.hrw.org |
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| Page Count: |
202 |
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| Format: |
Book (Softbound) |
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| Type: |
Report (Study/Research) |
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| Language: |
English |
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| Country: |
United States of America |
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To cite this abstract, use the following link:
http://www.ncjrs.gov/App/publications/abstract.aspx?ID=184700 |
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