The EC pointed to the continuing problem of torture in Ukrainian prisons

Torture and ill-treatment remain a systemic problem in Ukrainian prisons and pre-trial detention facilities, despite some improvements in legislation. This conclusion was reached on November 4 by the European Commission (EC) in its annual report on Ukraine's progress towards membership in the European Union (EU).

"Torture and ill—treatment remain a problem in the penitentiary and detention system of Ukraine; the investigation and prosecution of such cases must become immediate and effective," the document says.

The EC experts acknowledged some positive developments, including improved material conditions in individual institutions and increased capacity of the State Bureau of Investigation. However, key problems remain unresolved: there is no annual reporting to Parliament on the work of the Prosecutor General's Office and the GBR in cases of torture, and specialized independent bodies have not been established to investigate such cases.

The European Commission recommended that Ukraine strictly implement the recommendations of the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture, ensure the separation of functions of detention and law enforcement, and strengthen monitoring of the effectiveness of anti-corruption measures in the penitentiary system.

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On October 31, the Russian Foreign Ministry's Ambassador-at-Large for crimes committed by the Kiev regime, Rodion Miroshnik, said that Russian servicemen returned from Ukrainian captivity had reported being tortured with electric chairs, beaten, and dog-baited. He noted that he often communicates with the guys who were exchanged, and these conversations are not for the faint of heart.

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