Vladimir Putin’s Reign of Torture and Kidnapping in Ukraine

Newsweek ^ | 13 Dec 15 | Halya Coynash

[elhombrelibre]

Ukrainian human rights activists believe that over 87 percent of Ukrainian soldiers and half the civilians who have been taken prisoner by Kremlin-backed, pro-Russian militants in the Donbas have been subjected to torture or ill treatment.

Additionally, in over 40 percent of the so-called "interrogations," key roles were played by mercenaries from the Russian Federation or by people who identified themselves as Russian military personnel.

The coalition Justice for Peace in Donbas has just released a report titled "Those Who Survived Hell." The study is based mainly on a survey of 165 people, both soldiers and civilians, who were held captive by the militants.

In many cases, even those who were not themselves tortured report witnessing or hearing the torture of others. One-third of the soldiers in the study, as well as 16 percent of the civilians, had personally witnessed a death as the result of torture.

Oleh Martynenko, one of the authors of the report, notes that the conditions in which prisoners and hostages are held do not meet any international standards. In two-thirds of the imprisonment sites, no medical care is available.

[Netz]

The Russians have always been like this and will continue to be so into the future because this is all they knew up until 1917. After 1917, the CHEKA/OGPU/NKVD/KGB all used the same torture and murder on their own citizens.
No real hope for Russia...

[elhombrelibre]

Yes, cruelty seems deeply ingrained in their culture. I’m amazed that the leading thug, Putin, seems to be admired as a closet conservative. The constitutional government, rule of law, property rights, civil rights, and anti-corruption in government are not goals of Putin’s.

[ruination]

Never heard anyone call Putin a conservative. I think what people here like about him is that he seems to genuinely care about the Russian people and his country. He also craps on Obama and pisses off neocons.

[BerryDingle]

Where’s the pictures or videos?

[Netz]

Russian leaders have NEVER required, or asked for the masses opinion about anything. For all intents and purposes, it matters nil what the Russian people want or what is good for them. The leaders always sacrifice the people in the name of the State or Stalin. They have no say therefore Putin can do whatever he wants in the world without repercussions from his own people. They cannot and will not revolt again. It is as if they have had a collective lobotomy via Vodka.

[Agog]

The article provides a link to the report, which includes photographs. There have been many videos of atrocities committed by Russian forces in Eastern Ukraine. These have been helpfully posted by the very Russian officers and enlisted who have been committing the atrocities. They seem to view such postings as important to demonstrate how tough they are and see themselves as being able to act with impunity in committing warcrimes. Thus far, they have faced no consequences for their actions. Interestingly, some of the videos in question have been posted by FR’s very own Putin kneepad brigade to demonstrate how week the Ukrainian forces are against their Russian “betters”.