About Russian Torture Techniques
Throughout history, torture has been used as a means of coercion and punishment. Torture can be applied to both physical and psychological devices and strategies that are designed to intimidate, punish or gain information from victims or prisoners. In many countries around the world, torture techniques have been banned due to ethical and moral challenges associated with them. Despite these sanctions, many groups continue to use torture as a means of control.
-
History
-
Historically, European torture often reverted to the principle of "an eye for an eye." Therefore, if an individual stole an item, his hand may have been severed as punishment. However, these sentences slowly began to induce criticism as torture rather than justice. Torture also stood as a public display of the law. The grotesque punishments were intended to deter future crime, but this was not always effective. Torture also became especially useful to coerce vital information from war prisoners and other public officials during times of strife and battle.
Significance
-
In 2006, a Russian dungeon that housed inmates revealed evidence and witnesses who illuminated a torture situation. According to The Independent, evidence of a murder and torture cell was disclosed by the human rights group Human Rights Watch, (2006, Osborn). The windowless dungeon cells revealed graffiti written by previous inmates. Their pleas for help are prevalent along the walls, and according to the human rights group prove that the cell was used for torturous purposes.
Types
-
According to Human Rights Watch (www.hrw.org), Russian police have used a variety of techniques to torture prisoners and suspects. Sustained beatings are claimed to be a widespread punishment that involve punching, kicking and hitting the victim for a prolonged period. Electroshock involves hooking electric wires to the subject and administering electric shocks through a small machine. Suspension and painful binding may also be exercised to cause severe pain and loss of blood to certain limbs and extremities. Sufferers may be asphyxiated via a bag placed over their head during a beating, which can lead to hyperventilation. Some of these techniques were associated with confessions that were demanded after the torture was employed.
Considerations
-
In 2000, three men imprisoned only months earlier in a Chechnya detention camp described the torture inflicted upon them, (New York Times, 2000). The prisoners claimed to have their belongings taken and never returned. They were forced to stand for hours with their hands above their heads, and beatings were inflicted if they lowered them. Stories surfaced of inmates forced to defecate in cells, women and men raped and beaten, and executions.
Theories/Speculation
-
Despite the claims of torture in Chechnya, Sergei Yastrzhembsky, the Kremlin spokesperson on war issues, denied the reports and labeled them as lies fabricated by the press. This denouncement accompanied many reports of torture by prisoners in Russia. Various public officials declared these allegations ploys by inmates to improve their conditions or gain leniency.
-
