The State Bureau of Investigation has created a unit to investigate torture and human rights violations
The State Bureau of Investigation has created a new specialized unit that investigates crimes related to torture and ill-treatment of people by law enforcement officers and judges. This was reported by the press service of the State Bureau of Investigation on March 6.
The report notes that the investigation of torture and abuse of authority has become one of the key areas of the Bureau’s work within the framework of the implementation of the Roadmap on the Rule of Law, approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. The newly created unit should increase the effectiveness of such investigations.
Currently, 157 investigators specializing in criminal proceedings on torture and other human rights violations work in the territorial departments of the State Bureau of Investigation.
To control investigations, an electronic system for monitoring complaints and reports on torture has been introduced, which allows tracking each appeal, controlling response times, and analyzing information about possible violations by law enforcement officers.
The State Bureau of Investigation also joined the update of the state reporting system of pre-trial investigation bodies to separately reflect the results of investigations into torture and human rights violations.
Due to the high psychological burden on investigators, the Bureau has introduced a system professional and psychological support, which includes consultations, trainings and other forms of assistance to employees investigating crimes related to violence or the death of victims.
Earlier, the State Bureau of Investigation reported the exposure of a large-scale system of torture in the “Bozhkovskaya Correctional Colony No. 16”, where suspicions were raised against four employees. Investigators recorded numerous facts of beatings and abuse of prisoners, and the process of identifying all victims is ongoing.
