Document - Russian Federation: Police officers convicted of torturing man in detention

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

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AI Index: EUR 46/057/2005 (Public)

News Service No: 322

30 November 2005

Russian Federation: Police officers convicted of torturing man in detention

Two Russian police officers have been convicted of crimes relating to the torture of Aleksei Mikheev in detention in September 1998. A court in Nizhnii Novgorod found that Igor Somov and Nikolai Kosterin had driven Aleksei Mikheev to suicide, due to their participation in torture that included electric shock and beatings, to make him confess to a crime that he did not commit.

Aleksei Mikheev threw himself out of the second floor window of the police station where he was being held, to escape the torture. The court sentenced the two police officers to four years' imprisonment. However, according to the Committee Against Torture, a Nizhnii Novgorod-based non-governmental organization, Igor Somov and Nikolai Kosterin were not the only officers responsible for the torture and other police and procuracy officials who were responsible have yet to be prosecuted.

Aleksei Mikheev suffered serious injuries including a broken spine and is still wheelchair-bound. He continues his fight for justice and is seeking compensation for material and moral injury and is pursuing his claim through the European Court of Human Rights. The Committee Against Torture in Nizhnii Novgorod will continue to support Aleksei Mikheev with legal assistance.

Welcoming the conviction of the two police officers, Amnesty International calls for full redress for Aleksei Mikheev, including for all those responsible for his torture to be brought to justice in accordance with international standards.

Public Document

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