[prisoner-rights] Torture epidemic in Russian North Caucasus region makes UN access to detention sites essential

Vienna 5 October 2006. The International Helsinki Federation for Human
Rights (IHF) is appealing to the Russian government to allow UN Special
Rapporteur on Torture Manfred Nowak to visit its North Caucasus region on
terms already agreed.

Nowak was due to carry out a fact-finding mission to the Russian republics
of Chechnya, Ingushetia, North Ossetia and Kabardino-Balkaria on 9-20
October 2006. However, at a late stage in the preparations, the Russian
government informed him that some of the terms of his mission were not
compatible with Russian law, in particular with respect to conducting
unannounced visits to places of detention and holding private interviews
with detainees. Nowak had previously received assurances from the Russian
government that these terms -- which are among the standard guarantees
required by UN special representatives undertaking fact-finding missions
-- would be respected.

The IHF believes that it is essential that the UN Special Rapporteur on
Torture can freely access detention facilities and speak confidentially
with detainees during visits to individual countries. This is the only way
in which to obtain an accurate first-hand account of the local situation
and formulate appropriate recommendations for improvements to the
governments concerned.

Research by the IHF and its Russian partners shows that torture is a
growing problem in the North Caucasus as a whole and that such practices
have assumed epidemic proportions in Chechnya because of the climate of
impunity that has been allowed to prevail in this republic over the past
decade. The failure of the Russian government to cooperate with the UN
Special Rapporteur on Torture with respect to this region is therefore a
serious setback for human rights.

The IHF appeals to the Russian government to promptly reconsider its
decision on this matter and to facilitate a visit by the UN Special
Rapporteur on Torture to the North Caucasus in a near future. In this way
the Russian government would also demonstrate its commitment to upholding
its obligations under the UN Convention against Torture.

Fore more information: 
Henriette Schroeder, IHF Press Officer, Tel: +43-1-408 88 22-41; 
+43-(0)676-7254829 
Aaron Rhodes, IHF Executive Director, Tel: +43-1-408 88 22;
+43-(0)676-6356612