A/HRC/43/CRP.7 PREVALENCE OF TORTURE AND ILL-TREATMENT AMONG 39 DETAINEES INTERVIEWED BY OHCHR 155 Beatings157 Asphyxiation (dry and wet) Electric shocks Sexual violence158 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 illtreatment156 Per cent of the total number of detainees interviewed by OHCHR 32 82.1 11 28.2 19 48.7 9 23.1 7 17.9 6 15.4 11 28.2 11 28.2 12 30.8 17 43.6 10 25.6 Beatings 22. Beatings were the most common method of torture used. Detainees were punched, kicked and hit with various objects (rifle butts, plastic pipes, metal bats, water bottles or wire) on all parts of their bodies, but especially their thighs, arms and chests. One detainee was hit on his head with books for half an hour.159 Some detainees believed their faces were spared from beating because they were expected to record a confession on camera.160 Many detainees described how their backs and legs were “black and blue” with large bruises from beatings during interrogations.161 One detainee told OHCHR that after he was beaten, the skin around his ribcage turned blue from extensive bruising and he had trouble breathing for several weeks.162 Four detainees said that the beatings caused their ribs to break. One of them described how he had problems breathing, avoided coughing, and could not touch his ribs without pain for months.163 Other detainees said they experienced frequent severe headaches as a result of beatings,164 or pain in their legs after walking or sitting.165 A detainee told OHCHR that his torturer pressed a soft-cover book against his head and hit it several times with a handgun’s butt.166 Two detainees told OHCHR they were forced to watch other detainees being beaten.167 Several detainees reported to OHCHR that a man died after beatings in ‘Izoliatsiia’.168 23. In addition to the beatings during interrogations, ‘Izoliatsiia’ detainees told OHCHR that personnel and other detainees cooperating with the ‘administration’ would beat them to coerce them to confess or to punish them for their alleged pro-Ukraine views or for allegedly 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 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 beatings to genitals and eight cases of electric shocks to genitals. OHCHR interview, 14 January 2020. OHCHR interviews, 13 and 14 January 2020. OHCHR interview, 15 January 2020. OHCHR interview, 15 January 2020. OHCHR interviews, 13, 15, 21 and 22 January 2020. OHCHR interviews, 21 and 16 January 2020. OHCHR interviews, 10 and 15 January 2020. OHCHR interview, 14 January 2020. OHCHR interviews, 13 and 15 January 2020. OHCHR interviews, 15, 22 and 23 January 2020. 41