MOSCOW. Nov 29 (Interfax) - The UN Committee Against Torture expects Russia to report on measures taken to eradicate cruel treatment of inmates and military men and stop the intimidation of human rights activists in a year.
In November, the UN Committee Against Torture considered Russia's fifth periodic report on the fulfillment of the Convention Against Torture. Along with the official document, an alternative report made by a coalition of NGOs was submitted to the committee.
"The conclusions made by the committee state important measures that our country is taking to reduce torture practices. Nevertheless, the committee believes the situation with the use of torture in Russia remains alarming and requires the adoption of more urgent measures," the human rights center memorial said in a report obtained by Interfax on Wednesday.
"The committee has determined three priority issues on which Russia is to report by December 23, 2013. Russia is to report what was done in accordance with the recommendations issued by the committee on control over penitentiary establishments on issues relating to the intimidation and persecution of human rights activists, attacks against them, and also to resolve the problem of hazing and cruel treatment in the army," Memorial said.
Russia is required to report on other problem issues in December 2016, Memorial said.
The human rights activists said they agree with the conclusions made by the UN Committee on Torture that Russia needs to "introduce criminal liability for torture as an independent crime and ensure that police officers, military men, and other officials can be prosecuted for torture and that their sentences be commensurate to the gravity of their crimes."
"In its recommendations, the Committee Against Torture said Russia should admit that human rights activists are subjected to risks and persecution in connection with their human rights activities," the document says,
Memorial says the UN Committee Against Torture has called on Russia to change the legislation requiring human rights organizations receiving foreign funding to get register as "foreign agents," repeal the amendments to the definition of high treason given in the Criminal Code, and reconsider the current practices and legislation.
"There is a need to conduct an urgent, thorough, and impartial investigation into all reports on the intimidation of human rights activists, threats to them, attacks against them, and murders," the report says,