UN Delegation Denied Access to Alleged SBU Illegal Detention Sites

The UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture has suspended its visit to Ukraine after being denied access to alleged Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) detention sites. This was reported by Malcolm Evans, the delegation head.

"This denial of access is a violation of obligations of Ukraine under the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture. As a result, we were not able to visit some places, where we have received numerous and grave allegations that people had been detained and subject to torture or ill-treatment", he said.

According to the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture, the Subcommittee has a mandate to make unannounced visits to places of detention, as reported by the Human Rights Information Center.

The delegation said that the visit was scheduled for 19-26 May, but was suspended due to the obstruction. The delegation planned to evaluate the implementation of recommendations resulting from its first visit in 2011.

This was the second time the Subcommittee suspended its mission.

Source: Ukrayinska Pravda