The European Union imposed sanctions against four security officials, in particular, two of them – police officers Alexander Fedorinov and Ivan Ryabov. They were involved in the torture of anti-war activists, who were taken to the Brateevo police station and tortured for several hours. Two more – Major General Nikolai Kuznetsov and Colonel Ramil Ibatullin. The explanation of the sanctions list says that both are involved in acts of sexualized violence against the Ukrainian population.
The EU sanctions were timed to coincide with International Women's Day, which is celebrated on March 8.
“On International Women's Day, we think about the resilience and strength of women. Their determination to stand up to injustice. Their desire to protect others. Their relentless pursuit of change. Not only today, but every day, we unite with all women to give impetus to the protection of their rights around the world. We want to give women the freedom to pursue their life goals without hindrance. The growing oppression of women and girls around the world and the infringement of their human rights is alarming.
We are also deeply concerned by reports that the Russian Armed Forces are using sexual violence against women and children in Ukraine as a weapon of war. These acts constitute war crimes and those responsible must be held accountable. We will continue to work with our international partners to make Russia pay for these atrocities."
The torture in the Brateevo police station became known exactly a year ago, on March 6. Then an audio recording of torture was published, which one of the detained girls was able to record. She then told what happened in the department.
“They beat me in the legs, in the head. Doused with water. They ripped off the mask, pulled the phone out of their hands, threw it at the wall, twice. At the end they lifted, wiped the prints. Grabbed by the hair, led in different directions. They called me names. There were two girls in the office, they just watched the torture,” the girl said. On the recording she made, one of the employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs is heard threatening the Kaluga with electric shock and suggesting that she "gets high from the fact that ****** [we beat] her."
“Putin is on our side. You are the enemies of Russia, you are the enemies of the people ***** [nafig]. You ******** [will beat] here just ***** [nafig] and that's it. We will also receive a bonus for this, ”says the policeman.
According to female activists, at least three detained girls were beaten in the Brateevo police station. In particular, they pulled their hair, and one of them put a bag over their heads. An ambulance was called for the injured. The activists themselves were able to figure out who exactly tortured them thanks to the Yandex.Food data leak, as well as BBC journalists.