In a recent report, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) highlighted a significant increase in incidents of torture and ill-treatment in Turkey’s detention facilities, contradicting the nation’s declared zero tolerance policy. The resolution, adopted on 24 January, underscores the concerning trend in Turkey, and spotlights similar issues in other countries, including Russia and Azerbaijan.
The report, prepared by Cypriot parliamentarian Constantinos Efstathiou, reveals a disconcerting rise in torture cases in Turkey, particularly in processes involving arrest, detention, interrogation and crowd control by security forces. This upsurge starkly contrasts with the Turkish authorities’ official stance against torture and ill-treatment. The European Court of Human Rights’ (ECHR) rulings in cases involving Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan and others are cited as instances necessitating close monitoring by the Council of Europe.
Following the focus on Turkey, the report also sheds light on systemic issues in Russia and Azerbaijan. PACE condemned the widespread use of torture in these states, citing instances such as the ‘Terter cases’* in Azerbaijan and abuses in Russian prisons.
The resolution emphasises the urgent need for concrete action, recommending legal reforms to criminalise torture and ill-treatment, ensure accountability and protect complainants. It advocates for fundamental procedural safeguards from the outset of detention, including access to independent legal counsel and medical examination.
(*) The Terter Case refers to a series of alleged human rights violations in Azerbaijan, specifically in the town of Terter, that came to light in April 2021. According to the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), at least 78 Azerbaijani citizens were detained and sentenced to prison terms ranging from 12 to 20 years.
Numerous allegations of torture have been made, including multiple cases of torture committed against detainees by Azerbaijani military personnel and civilians. Reportedly, 11 individuals died in custody due to torture. The total number of detainees and those who have died from torture is unknown, and the case has been classified as a state secret.
