According to the expert, the conditions of detention of these people are critical, and many of them are in serious danger due to the lack of medical care.
‘Ukrainians held in Russia are in an extremely dangerous situation. I remind the authorities that anyone in detention must always be treated with humanity and dignity, including access to adequate medical care,’ – Edwards said.
According to her, in all eight cases she examined in detail, the prisoners had serious health problems, some life-threatening. At least two people need medical treatment after being beaten by prison guards.
Edwards emphasised that the lack of medical care in detention centres can be a form of torture or ill-treatment.
‘Hundreds of Ukrainian civilians have been unlawfully deprived of their liberty in Crimea since the beginning of the Russian occupation 10 years ago. Many have been persecuted for political reasons, some have been falsely accused of terrorism. A significant number of prisoners have been taken from Crimea and are being held in Russia, far from their families and lawyers,’ – the UN rapporteur said.
She addressed the Russian government with a statement and assured that she would continue to monitor the situation.
‘Torture remains part of Russia’s military policy, and it is carried out systematically. Moscow must immediately stop these abuses,’- Edwards stressed.
As a reminder, according to the Crimean Tatar Resource Centre’s 2024 Analysis of Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Crimea, at least 64 cases of violations of the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health were recorded, including 56 against the indigenous Crimean Tatar people.