WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden denounced the “appalling brutality” exhibited by Russian authorities both within their own borders and in occupied Ukraine on Monday, in observance of the United Nations Day for support of torture victims.
Biden emphasized the destructive impact of torture on individuals, families, and communities, calling it a grave violation of human rights and dignity.
Biden specifically highlighted the “evidence of appalling brutality by members of Russia’s forces” in Ukraine, citing patterns of abuse that included torture aimed at coercing cooperation with occupation authorities and during interrogations. These acts of cruelty reportedly involved beatings, electrical shocks, mock executions, and sexual violence. The President further addressed the prevalence of torture within Russia itself, with reports of such abuse commonly occurring in detention facilities and targeting activists and government critics.
Joe Biden Also Draws Attention to Syria and North Korea
In addition to Russia, Biden also drew attention to Syria and North Korea, where he pointed out the plight of tens of thousands of forcibly disappeared individuals subjected to torture. Families of the victims often remain unaware of their loved ones’ fate and whereabouts in Syria. Concerning North Korea, Biden referenced credible reports of widespread torture and other forms of cruel, inhumane, and degrading treatment by authorities. The abuse includes the mistreatment of women, such as sexual violence, forced abortion, and forced sterilization.
Notably, Biden did not explicitly mention the reports of torture conducted by US security services in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. However, he stressed the importance of holding all countries accountable, stating that the United States believes in upholding the same standards it expects from others.
