Russian Torture

Many outrageous claims have been made by the Bush Administration over the past few years but perhaps none has been more laughable than their belief that it is sufficient to secure "diplomatic assurances" that a national being transferred back to his home country by the U.S. will not be tortured.

Today HRW once again blows the Administration line out of the water this time by releasing a report titled: “Stamp of Guantanamo: The Story of Seven Men Betrayed by Russia’s Diplomatic Assurances to the United States."

It shows clearly that Guantanamo "war on terror" detainees who were sent home to Russia in 2004 experienced torture and other abuse despite the Putin government's pledge to the Bush Administration that these prisoners that they would be treated humanely.

Key Quote from the Summary:

"The US government has triply wronged these men: first by detaining them without due process, second by returning them to Russia in violation of international law, and third by failing to follow and protest their mistreatment by Russian authorities after their return. In this last aspect, the Russian government of course bears the greatest and most immediate responsibility. But by branding these seven men “terrorist suspects,” the US government certainly rendered them more vulnerable targets for Russian abuse. In this sad post-Guantanamo tale, both the US and Russian governments have a great deal to answer for."