Amnesty International: Both Sides Torture Prisoners in Donbass

Pro-Kiev and separatist forces alike torture prisoners and use them as “currency” for exchanges.

According to Radio Liberty, in reference to a new report by Amnesty International, this was stated by John Dalhuisen, the Europe and Central Asia Programme Director at Amnesty International.

Dahuisen said: “In the shadow of eastern Ukraine’s still smouldering conflict, our on-the-ground research shows that accounts of detainee torture are as commonplace as they are shocking. More than 30 former prisoners held by both sides gave us consistent and harrowing accounts of their captors’ abuse. Prisoners on both sides have been beaten and subjected to mock executions.”

Amnesty corroborated the victims’ testimonies against additional evidence, including x-rays of broken bones, hospital records, photographs of bruises and other injuries, scars, and missing teeth. 

Of the former prisoners Amnesty interviewed, 17 had been held by separatists and 16 by pro-Kiev military and law enforcement officials, including the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).

Dalhuisen said: “In some cases, these civilians are detained as currency for prisoner exchanges, but it also may be simply to punish them for their views. This is a disturbing and illegal practice that must be stopped immediately.”

Amnesty has shared its findings with the Ukrainian authorities, but a response has not yet been received. 

Earlier, the OSCE mission, after speaking with hospitalized Russians who were detained on May 16th near Shchastya, in the Luhansk region, confirmed that they are members of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Russian Federation. Russians were detained by the soldiers of the 92nd mechanized brigade during recent clashes.