A/HRC/43/CRP.7
detentions were registered on the following day after the arrest, five on the third day, three
on the fourth day, and one on the fifth day.
7.
Several detainees told OHCHR they were coerced into signing self-incriminating
documents and were denied access to legal counsel as long as they did not confess. In 32
cases, access to legal counsel was provided only after the first interrogation, of which 11 cases
resulted in a confession before a detainee saw a lawyer.
8.
Of the 75 individuals whose cases were documented by OHCHR, 57 (76 per cent)
reported having been subjected to torture or ill-treatment, including sexual violence, or
threats of violence, with the SBU being mainly responsible. Of the seven women interviewed
by OHCHR, three were subjected to physical torture or ill-treatment and threats, and two to
threats only (including one threatened with sexual violence). Torture and ill-treatment were
mainly used to extract confessions or to intimidate.
PREVALENCE OF TORTURE AND ILL-TREATMENT AMONG 75 DETAINEES
WHOSE CASES WERE DOCUMENTED BY OHCHR 131
Beatings133
Asphyxiation (dry and wet)
Electric shocks
Sexual violence134
Positional torture
Deprivation of water, food, sleep
or toilet
Mock executions
Threats of death
Threats of harm to family
Threats of violence
Threats of sexual violence
Number of
detainees
subjected to a
specific method
of torture or illtreatment132
43
13
11
7
4
Per cent of the total number of
detainees interviewed by
OHCHR
57.3
17.3
14.7
9.3
5.3
4
5.3
11
13
20
17
7
14.7
17.3
26.7
22.7
9.3
9.
The percentage of detainees subjected to various methods of torture and ill-treatment
considerably decreased in 2018 and 2019 (based on the cases of 27 detainees) if compared
with 2014 and 2015 (based on the cases of 34 detainees):
Change in the share of detainees subjected to a
specific method of torture or ill-treatment in
2018-2019 as compared to 2014-2015, per cent
131
132
133
134
Beatings
Decrease from 76.5 to 37.0
Asphyxiation (dry and wet)
Decrease from 29.4 to 7.4
The list of methods of torture and ill-treatment in this table is not exhaustive. Many detainees were
subjected to several methods of torture or ill-treatment.
Specific detainees could be subjected to a specific method of torture several times during the period
of their detention.
Including cases when detainees were beaten after being handcuffed or otherwise immobilised during
their apprehension.
Including one case of blows to genitals, three cases of electric shocks to genitals, one case of incisions
to genitals and two cases of forced nudity.
37
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