A/HRC/43/CRP.7 not provided with any information, or told that the person had not been detained. In only a few instances, the detention was confirmed. In one case, the mother of a detainee was informed by the ‘ministry of state security’ that they did not have him in their custody, while they interrogated and tortured him over this period.138 In another case, the wife of a detainee received the confirmation of his detention only after the 30-day ‘administrative arrest’ period had passed.139 ‘Investigation’ and related torture or ill-treatment 15. In most cases, ‘investigative actions’ began immediately after the apprehension, comprised of interrogations by ‘officers’ of the ‘ministry of state security’ or persons who did not identify themselves. Several detainees believe that “FSB officers” were also taking part in interrogations.140 16. Detainees were interrogated either in the premises of the ‘ministry of state security’ or in the ‘Izoliatsiia’ detention facility. When taken for an interrogation and during the interrogation, detainees were often hooded (usually with a plastic bag) or blindfolded and handcuffed. 17. In most of the documented cases, interrogators immediately threatened detainees with death, physical violence, or rape, or that their relatives would be raped if they refuse to confess or otherwise cooperate with the ‘investigation’. For example, perpetrators threatened: “I gave you a chance to confess so you can stay healthy. If you don’t confess now, you will end up saying everything anyway, but you will also lose your health”141; “your daughter will be raped right in front of you”142; “we will gouge out your wife’s eyes”143; and “we will rape your wife”144. Such threats were often accompanied by blows to the body or slaps to the face, or with other actions meant to terrify, such as putting a gun to a detainee’s head or pointing it at his foot and threatening to shoot, “just because we can and no one will do anything about this”145, or pressing a knife to detainee’s neck threatening to cut his throat146. “It is 1937 for you here”, a detainee was told.147 18. Thirty-seven of the 39 individuals interviewed by OHCHR reported having been subjected to torture or ill-treatment, mostly during interrogations. The major purpose of torture or ill-treatment was to extract a confession or information about the affiliation of the detainee or cooperation with the SBU. For example, a detainee was told: “No matter what, you will sign everything”.148 In a number of cases, men from the ‘ministry of state security’ tortured detainees without speaking or giving them time to confess. In one case, a detainee was subjected to electric shocks, and told to speak, but before he could say anything subjected to electric shocks again. This was repeated several times.149 19. The number, intensity and duration of such torture sessions varied. They usually lasted or repeated until a detainee agreed to confess (orally, in writing or on video). One detainee told OHCHR: “I did not want to die, I told them what they wanted [a confession]”.150 20. Some individuals showed OHCHR scars on their arms and legs. Some said they repeatedly lost consciousness because the pain was unbearable. One detainee told OHCHR that he was tortured every other day, but could not remember how many days this lasted 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 OHCHR interview, 23 January 2020. OHCHR interview, 15 January 2020. They judged this on the basis of the person’s Russian accent, the fact that these individuals gave instructions to locals, and that their conduct was systematic and structured in contrast with the conduct of locals. OHCHR interview, 10 January 2020. OHCHR interview, 15 January 2020. OHCHR interview, 15 January 2020. OHCHR interview, 23 January 2020. OHCHR interview, 20 January 2020. OHCHR interview, 14 January 2020. Referring to the purges in the Soviet Union of 1937-1938 when detainees were tortured and executed en masse. OHCHR interview, 15 January 2020. OHCHR interview, 15 January 2020. OHCHR interview, 14 January 2020. OHCHR interview, 10 January 2020. 39