The Joint Mobile Group of human rights defenders has checked the information on torture usage against Ruslan Kutaev in the Chechen Republic. The public investigation obtained evidence giving reasonable grounds to believe that between 20 and 22 February 2014 State representatives acting in official capacity repeatedly subjected Ruslan Kutaev to unlawful violence inflicting strong physical pain and severe moral suffering with the purpose of obtaining from him confession to a criminal offense.

According to the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, ratified by the Russian Federation in 1987, these acts are qualified as torture.

During the torture Mr Kutaev sustained injuries, partly recorded when placing him into a temporary detention ward by the officer on duty.

The aforementioned officials’ actions contain elements of criminal offenses punishable under Articles 286 (3) and 303 (4) of the Criminal Code.

The public investigation files will be on 3 march 2014 submitted to the Human Rights Ombudsman Vladimir Lukin, and to the Chairman of the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights Mikhail Fedotov.