Beaten with truncheons and kicked: occupation security forces exposed for torture in Kherson

Torture, mock executions and months of illegal detention - a group of occupation forces who terrorized civilians was exposed in Kherson. Investigators have already identified four suspects, including an employee of the Russian Federal Security Service.

This was reported by the press service of the Kherson Regional Prosecutor's Office.

Law enforcement officers have identified four representatives of the occupation forces in Kherson who are suspected of torturing civilians during the temporary occupation of the city. Among the defendants are an employee of the Russian Federal Security Service and three so-called "law enforcement officers" who acted as part of illegal structures.

According to the prosecutor's office, the suspects took an active part in supporting the occupation regime. They detained local residents, organized their illegal detention, and conducted interrogations in the seized police station.

The investigation identified at least three victims. One of the men was held in the lobby of the seized administrative building for two days with his hands permanently handcuffed. He was regularly taken for interrogation, where he was beaten with truncheons and kicked, forcing him to sign a document stating that he had no claims of property theft.

Another victim was illegally detained for almost two months. During interrogations, he was subjected to physical and psychological pressure in an attempt to obtain information about the property of state institutions.

Another man was forced to confess to theft by being beaten and subjected to a mock execution. After receiving a signed "confession," he was released.

All four defendants were notified in absentia of suspicion of cruelty to civilians and violation of the laws and customs of war. Two of them were also accused of participating in illegal law enforcement agencies created by the occupation authorities.

Also during the occupation of Kakhovka, a man was kept in the basement for almost two weeks and tortured, beating out"confessions" about the possible presence of weapons, his pro-Ukrainian position and his circle of acquaintances among activists. Two members of the pseudo-police are suspected of ill-treatment and have already been notified of suspicion in absence.

Анна Бальчінос