Appeals to Ombudsman on cases of torture increased by 7 times in last 4 years

1,563 appeals to the Ombudsman were addressed by detainees and their relatives. Of these, 485 were sent by mail.

“405 appeals were sent to the Prosecutor General’s Office, 390 – to the Supreme Court, 212 – to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, 63 – to the Ministry for Mahalla and Family Affairs and local authorities, and 493 – to other relevant ministries and agencies,” the report said.

650 or 41.6% of the appeals received from detainees and their relatives were considered under special control and satisfied by the Ombudsman.

The number of complaints on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment has also increased in the last four years. In particular, in 2020, 184 such complaints (in 2019 – 138, in 2018 – 101, in 2017 – 24) were received by the Ombudsman.

Of these complaints, 95 or 51.7% occurred during interrogation, pre-trial investigation and inquiry, 86 or 46.7% – in penitentiaries and remand prisons, and 3 or 1.6% – in police detention facilities.