Amnesty International Tells of ‘Stomach Wrenching” Torture in War-Torn Ukraine

Amnesty International, the global non-governmental organization that monitors human rights abuses, has presented graphic and compelling evidence of “stomach wrenching” torture in eastern Ukraine carried out against activists, protesters and journalists in eastern Ukraine by Russian mercenaries.

“The bulk of the abductions are being perpetrated by armed separatists, with the victims often subjected to stomach-turning beatings and torture. There is also evidence of a smaller number of abuses by pro-Kyiv forces,” Amnesty International reported.

Euphemisms such as armed separatists, militants, rebels with or without the modifier Ukrainian, which are used by many major news outlets and some governments and organizations, always pertain to Russian mercenaries, terrorists and invaders.

As for stomach-wrenching, the use of the description by Amnesty International may substantiate the photos of decapitations that appeared on Facebook a couple of months ago.

A new briefing, “Abductions and Torture in Eastern Ukraine,” details the findings of an Amnesty International research trip to Kyiv and southeastern Ukraine in recent weeks. It documents allegations of abduction and torture perpetrated by separatist armed groups and pro-Kyiv forces.

“With hundreds abducted over the last three months, the time has come to take stock of what has happened, and stop this abhorrent ongoing practice,” said Denis Krivosheev, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director of Europe and Central Asia.

Amnesty International noted there are no comprehensive or reliable figures on the number of abductions, but the Ukrainian Ministry of Interior has reported nearly 500 cases between April and June 2014. The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission for Ukraine also recorded 222 cases of abduction in the last three months.
Amnesty International reports that it also met with various ad-hoc self-help groups which have been collating details on the escalating number of abductions. The research team has been provided with a list of more than 100 civilians who have been held captive. Allegations of torture have been made in the majority of cases.

Abductions have taken place across eastern Ukraine, in the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. Those targeted include not only police, the military and local officials, but also journalists, politicians, activists, members of electoral commissions and businesspeople.

“Now that pro-Kyiv forces are re-establishing control over Slavyansk, Kramatorsk and various other places in eastern Ukraine new captives are being released almost daily with an increasing number of disturbing cases emerging. It is time that these are meticulously documented with perpetrators brought to justice with victims awarded compensation,” said Krivosheev.

Hanna, a pro-Ukrainian activist, told Amnesty International how she was abducted by armed men in the eastern city of Donetsk on 27 May. She was held for six days before being released in a prisoner exchange. She described to Amnesty International how she was violently interrogated.

“My face was smashed, he punched me in the face with his fist, he was trying to beat me everywhere, I was covering myself with my hands… I was huddled in the corner, curled up in a ball with my hands around my knees. He was angry that I was trying to protect myself. He went out and came back with a knife.”

Amnesty International reported that while most abductions appear to have a “political” motivation there is clear evidence that abduction and torture is being used by armed groups to exert fear and control over local populations. People have also being abducted for ransom.

Sasha, a 19-year-old pro-Ukrainian activist, fled to Kyiv after he was abducted by separatists at gunpoint in Luhansk. He said he was beaten repeatedly for 24 hours.

“They beat me with their fists, a chair, anything they could find. They stubbed out cigarettes on my leg and electrocuted me. It went on for so long, I couldn’t feel anything anymore, I just passed out,” he told Amnesty International.

He was finally released after his father paid a US$60,000 ransom.

Amnesty International pointed out in its report that while the vast majority of allegations of abduction and torture are levelled against separatist pro-Russian groups, pro-Kyiv forces, including self-defence groups, have also been implicated in the ill-treatment of captives.

Amnesty International called on the Ukrainian government to create a single and regularly updated register of incidents of reported abductions, and thoroughly and impartially investigate every allegation of abusive use of force, ill-treatment and torture.