Doc. 9761

1 April 2003

Prevention of Torture

Written Question No. 416 to the Chairperson of the Committee of Ministers

Reply from the Chairperson of the Committee of Ministers

adopted at the 833^rd meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies (26 March 2003)

I. Written Question No. 416 by Lord Russell-Johnston (Doc. 9579)

To ask the Chairperson of the Committee of Ministers,

What follow-up there has been to the public declaration of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment published in July 2001, concerning what took place in the detention facility at Chernokossovo in the Russian Federation.

II. Reply by the Chairperson of the Committee of Ministers

The Chairman recalls that the public statement by the CPT referred to in the Written Question was made on 10 July 2001. On 18 July 2001, the statement was discussed by the Ministers' Deputies. Following that discussion, the then Chairman of the Committee of Ministers issued a declaration urging the Russian authorities to co-operate fully with the CPT, as regards both the issues referred to in the public statement and all other aspects of the Committee's activities concerning the Chechen Republic (Russian Federation).

Since July 2001, the CPT has organised two further visits to the Chechen Republic (in February and May 2002), and high-level talks between the Russian authorities and CPT representatives took place in Moscow in mid-December 2002. In accordance with Article 11 of the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture, the CPT's reports on those visits and the Committee's consultations with the Russian authorities are confidential. However, the Chairman takes note of the position adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly in Resolution 1315 (2003), that the Russian authorities should ensure the publication of the CPT's reports.