48. Multiple detentions and torture of civilian.
Izium (Kharkiv)
LOCATION: Izium (Kharkiv)
DATES: March 28, 2022 and August 7-September 10, 2022
NUMBER OF WITNESSES: 1
SUMMARY: Russian forces illegally detained a male civilian (the Witness) twice. The first time, in late March 2022, he was detained after bringing identity documents for his son, who had been captured and accused by Russian forces of spotting for Ukrainian artillery. The son was released, but the Witness was held and interrogated while his home was searched. On August 7, 2022, Russian forces searched his home again and discovered evidence of prior military service. He was then detained again and held for 32 days, during which he was interrogated, tortured, and forced to record false confessions of war crimes committed during his 2015 military service in eastern Ukraine.
WITNESSES
The Witness of the incident was a male resident of Izium who worked as a security guard. He used to serve in the ATO.
VICTIMS
The Victims of the incident include the Witness mentioned above as well as the Witness’ son, a male civilian and resident of Izium.
ALLEGED PERPETRATORS
as described by the Witness(es)
The perpetrators include members of the Russian military, the internationally unrecognized “Luhansk People’s Republic,” and a female secretary. The perpetrators were aged between their 30s and 40s.