ICAR Foundation Statement on the events following the tragic attack at the Crocus City Hall

March 26, 2024

ICAR Foundation, with more than thirty years dedicated to combating torture and offering rehabilitation services to its survivors, is deeply concerned about the recent events following the tragic attack at the Crocus City Hall concert venue in Moscow.

On March 24, 2024, four individuals detained in connection with this heinous act appeared before Moscow’s Basmanny District Court. The visible signs of recent physical aggression on these suspects, as reported and evident in court, are distressing.

Torture and ill-treatment are categorically prohibited under international law, a principle enshrined in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and explicitly forbidden by the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT). State Parties to the CAT (including Russian Federation) are obligated to prevent torture, especially of persons held in custody, and to investigate and prosecute those responsible for such acts.

ICAR Foundation unequivocally condemns the torture of any individual, regardless of the accusations against them. The seriousness of a crime can never justify the use of torture; it undermines the very essence of justice, impeding the truth and hindering accountability for victims.

The right to be free from torture is absolute and non-negotiable. It is an international crime, and as defenders of human rights, we must uphold this prohibition universally – failing to do so would make us complicit.

The path to justice for the victims of the Crocus City Hall attack must be paved with respect for human rights and adherence to the rule of law. Anything less undermines the very foundation of justice and the principles we, as a global community, hold dear.