UN Committee Against Tortures accuses Russia of keeping secret prisons and kidnappings in Chechnya

The United Nations Committee Against Tortures has accused Russia of having secret prisons, violations of human rights and kidnappings in Chechnya, the "Gazeta.ru" informs with a reference to the Associated Press.

The document of 12 page states that the Committee "has reliable information on non-official custodies in North Caucasus." The Committee asserts that it possesses accusation of application to the people contained there of "severe" and "inhumane" methods of pressure.

The statement also stresses "numerous and incessant charges" that kidnappings are carried out by employees of governmental structures or upon their approval, and the kidnappers remain unpunished.

In particular, the UN Committee asserts that tortures are applied in the establishments managed by the 2nd Operations and Investigatory Bureau. The report mentions numerous detainments of relatives of those suspected of terrorist activity.

See earlier reports: "Chechnya: practice of torturing detainees continues."