A/HRC/43/CRP.7 cellmate returned hours later in torn clothes, visibly distraught and crying uncontrollably. She refused to talk about what had happened.211 41. In describing their experiences, detainees stated: “We were treated like animals in ‘Izoliatsiia’. They wanted to kill all that is human in us”212; “The main aim in ‘Izoliatsiia’ is to survive”213; “Have you ever felt animal fear? That’s how I felt in ‘Izoliatsiia’” 214; “They simply kill people there”215; “When I was moved to SIZO, I understood I will live. There [in Izoliatsiia] I had no rights. They could shoot me dead.”216 C. Arbitrary detention, torture and-ill-treatment of detainees in territory controlled by the self-proclaimed ‘Luhansk people’s republic’ 42. By 15 February 2020, OHCHR interviewed 17 (14 men and three women) out of the 25 released detainees whom the self-proclaimed ‘Luhansk people’s republic’ had handed over to the Government on 29 December 2019. Two had been in detention since 2015, two since 2016, five since 2017, and eight since 2018. 43. Once again, the testimonies confirmed a consistent pattern of arbitrary detention, often amounting to enforced disappearance, and torture and ill-treatment of detainees in territory controlled by ‘Luhansk people’s republic’. Torture and ill-treatment were widespread during the initial stage of detention, considerably decreasing after the completion of ‘pre-trial investigations’. Apprehension 44. The majority of individuals interviewed by OHCHR had been apprehended by armed men in balaclavas and camouflage who did not identify themselves, were blindfolded or had a bag placed over their heads, and were handcuffed. Several individuals reported being subjected to beatings or electric shocks, or threatened with violence once immobilized. For example, upon apprehension, one detainee was brought to a minibus where the perpetrators attached wires to his legs, neck, ears and genitals and subjected him to electric shocks while demanding he confess to having cooperated with the SBU. He lost consciousness during the torture.217 45. The majority of detainees were not informed of the reasons for their detention. One detainee told OHCHR that the perpetrators handcuffed her and said they needed to take her to Luhansk “for a talk”.218 Another detainee was told by the perpetrators that someone would come to talk to him in the morning and let him go.219 Several detainees were informed about their formal ‘charges’ months after their apprehension.220 Initial period of detention 46. In the majority of cases, the first place of detention was either the premises of the ‘ministry of state security’ or in various units under the ‘ministry of interior’. Those initially brought to the premises of the ‘ministry of interior’ were subsequently transferred to the premises of the ‘ministry of state security’. While some detainees were held in the premises of the ‘ministry of state security’ for months, others were transferred to other detention facilities shortly after their apprehension. 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 OHCHR interview, 24 January 2020. OHCHR interview, 13 January 2020. OHCHR interview, 15 January 2020. OHCHR interview, 10 January 2020. OHCHR interview, 15 January 2020. OHCHR interview, 15 January 2020. OHCHR interview, 16 January 2020. OHCHR interview, 13 January 2020. OHCHR interview, 14 January 2020. OHCHR interviews, 2, 5, 13, 14, 16 and 17 January 2020. 45