Amnesty International has documented Ukraine’s actions and challenges remaining to erradicate police torture. © APGraphicsBank
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
PRESS RELEASE
With or without EU agreement, Ukraine must eradicate torture
(Brussels, 19 November 2013)The Ukrainian authorities must make real progress towards the elimination of torture and other ill-treatment by law enforcement officials, in line with the country’s international obligations, Amnesty International said in the context of discussions surrounding the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement.
“Irrespective of the future of the Association Agreement with Ukraine, the EU must work to ensure Ukraine complies with its international obligations. Ukraine is an important member of the European and international community. The country’s authorities have voluntarily signed up to all major international human rights agreements – the absolute ban on torture among them,” said Nicolas Beger, Director of Amnesty International’s European Institutions Office.
The Association Agreement offers enhanced cooperation in trade, energy, banking and many other areas, and is based on common values, including ‘democracy and rule of law, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, [and] good governance’.
The EU has made the eradication of “selective justice” a pre-requisite for signing the Agreement on 28 November in Vilnius, capital of Lithuania, and current holder of the EU Presidency, holding up the case of Yuliya Tymoshenko as an example. Tymoshenko, the imprisoned former prime minister and leader of the opposition party All-Ukrainian Union “Fatherland”, is serving a seven year sentence for exceeding her official powers in connection with the signing of a gas deal with Russia at an unfavourable price. She is suffering from a back injury and has requested to travel to Germany for treatment.
“The case of Yuliya Tymoshenko highlights the lack of fair trials and poor prison conditions in Ukraine. The political significance of her case should not however be allowed to overshadow the systemic problems that deprive thousands of Ukrainians of their rights every day,” said Nicolas Beger.
Every year thousands of Ukrainians are beaten by the police to extract confessions for crimes that they may not have committed, only to be sent to prison after unfair trails. In the absence of an effective police complaints mechanism, their complaints are frequently ignored.
”It is imperative that the Ukrainian authorities set up an independent and effective mechanism to investigate promptly and adequately allegations of torture and other-ill-treatment in accordance with the European Court of Human Rights’ standards as soon as possible” said Nicolas Beger. ”The eradication of torture and other ill-treatment requires legislative changes as well as systemic reforms to the criminal justice system. The Ukrainian government has taken important steps. But until each and every allegation of torture is promptly, effectively and independently investigated, and the perpetrators are brought to justice, torturers will continue to act with impunity”, said Nicolas Beger.
Amnesty International’s document, Ukraine and the EU: Time to put people first, outlines progress made so far and points out next steps.
For more information please contact:
Maeve Patterson
Media & Communications Officer
European Institutions Office
Amnesty International
Tel: +32 (0) 2 548 2773
[email protected]
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