On June 30 in Vienna, during the third OSCE Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting, a side event titled “Anatomy of Torture” took place. It was organized by the Center for Civil Liberties, the International Centre for Ukrainian Victory (ICUV), and the National Interests Advocacy Network “ANTS”, with the participation of a representative of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, a representative of the Patronage Service of the 12th Special Purpose Brigade “Azov” of the NGU, and Anastasiia Savova, the daughter of a soldier from the 36th Separate Marine Brigade.
During the event, two new analytical documents were presented: a joint study by the International Centre for Ukrainian Victory (ICUV) and the National Interests Advocacy Network “ANTS”, as well as an analytical brief by the Center for Civil Liberties, dedicated to ill-treatment and torture involving Russian medical personnel in detention facilities on the territory of the Russian Federation and the TOT.
The Executive Director of the Center for Civil Liberties presented the analytical works, which, based on testimonies of former prisoners of war, illegally detained civilians, medical workers, and a legal analysis of the research, demonstrate that Russian medical personnel were integrated into a broader system of ill-treatment. The human rights defender drew attention to the fact that such practices are gross violations of international humanitarian law, international human rights law, the UN Convention against Torture, the Geneva Conventions, and universally recognized principles of medical ethics.
“The research results indicate that abuse by medical personnel are not isolated incidents. All these crimes are merely elements of a broader system created and supported by the state, which functions in places of unfreedom under the control of the Russian Federation”, noted Oleksandra Romantsova.
Oleh Hushchyn, a representative of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, pointed out that the collected evidence confirms the systematic denial of medical care, neglect of severe injuries and diseases, degrading treatment, concealment of acts of violence, as well as the direct participation of medical workers in actions constituting torture or other forms of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.
“None of the known places where Ukrainians are detained in Russia meets the requirements of the Geneva Convention. These are places of torture, ill-treatment, and death,” emphasized Oleh Hushchyn.
Iryna Hoy, the Head of the Medical Department of the Patronage Service of the 12th Special Purpose Brigade “Azov” of the NGU, drew the audience’s attention to the fact that the defenders of Mariupol and the servicemen of the “Azov” brigade are in a particularly dire situation in captivity.
“The servicemen of the ‘Azov’ brigade are one of the most difficult categories to return due to the attitude toward the unit, distorted by Russian propaganda. They have been in captivity since May 2022, for the fifth year now. Over 600 of them still remain in captivity. They are practically not being exchanged; even in large-scale exchanges of 1000 for 1000, there are very few of them,” noted Iryna Hoy.
Anastasiia Savova, the daughter of a marine from the 36th Separate Marine Brigade, Oleksandr Savov, emphasized that diseases acquired in captivity and the consequences of torture and ill-treatment, including by medical personnel, accompany prisoners of war and civilians even after they return home. She told the story of her father, who spent almost three years in captivity and died from his injuries after being released.
“We were incredibly happy when dad returned home, despite the fact that he weighed almost half as much as he did before captivity, had an active form of tuberculosis, numerous injuries, and the consequences of systematic beatings and torture. The doctors couldn’t find a single system in his body that was undamaged. Eight months after his release, he died from the consequences of the injuries and illnesses caused by his time in captivity. Unfortunately, his body had suffered too many irreversible changes. He was finally free. But the doctors could no longer help him in any way,” shared Anastasiia Savova.
The participants called for the creation of mixed medical commissions to ensure the access of international missions to individuals held in places of unfreedom and to prevent further violations; they emphasized the need to use international compensation mechanisms, including the frozen sovereign assets of the Russian Federation, to pay reparations and support the recovery of victims of torture, illegal deprivation of liberty, and other gross violations of international law.
During the discussion, the participants also examined and discussed ways to ensure accountability for the perpetrators, including criminal and professional liability of medical personnel, and the role of international monitoring and justice mechanisms. Special attention was paid to the rights of the victims, in particular the right to rehabilitation, compensation, and effective legal remedies.
“At a time when thousands of Ukrainians remain in Russian captivity, exposing the role of medical personnel in the system of torture is critically important not only for ensuring the accountability of the perpetrators but also for protecting the principles of medical ethics and preventing the normalization of torture and ill-treatment in the context of armed conflict”, concluded Oleksandra Romantsova.
