Report by Council of Europe’s anti-torture committee gotten in touch with Montenegrin authorities to examine cases of authorities cruelty and modification ‘the existing culture of cops impunity’. Montenegrin Special Police Unit training in camp in the capital, Podgorica. Picture: Government of Montenegro The Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman Treatment, CPT, on Thursday gotten in touch with Montenegro’s authorities to examine cases of cops cruelty. In its report, the Committee contacted Interior Minister Filip Adzic, head of the Police Directorate Nikola Terzic and local authorities directors to actively promote a culture modification within police. “Police officers need to be motivated to report all cases of violence by associates through clear reporting lines to an unique authority beyond the cops system worried. It is important that efficient examinations into accusations of ill-treatment are carried out to show that criminal acts by the cops will be penalized. The existing culture of cops impunity need to be ended,” the report stated. “It’s likewise crucial that treatments remain in location to guarantee that all grievances of ill-treatment by law enforcement officer are immediately and completely examined,” it included. Pointing out a European authorities firm EUROPOL report to the Montenegrin federal government from last May, news website Libertas Press on March 23 released pictures and SKY app records of cops unique system officers and members of the infamous Kavac drug gangs. In the released images, unique system policeman can be seen beating detainees, putting weapons in their mouths, suffocating them and abusing them with electrical power. According to civil society organisations, more than 70 cases of supposed cops abuse have actually been reported to the Montenegrin Police Directorate, the Ombudsperson and the State Prosecution considering that 2020. The Council of Europe Committee kept in mind that many of the cases were not examined by authorities, in spite of calls to do so from human rights organisations. “The accusations consisted of slaps, punches, the getting and squeezing of suspects’ genital areas, electro-shocks, hazards at gunpoint, hazards of rape … Our delegation likewise became aware of risks made versus the kids or other member of the family of the suspect to press them to make a confession or to impart particular pieces of info. In the Committee’s view, these supposed actions might well total up to abuse,” the report stated. A March 20 report by the United States State Department kept in mind reports of authorities abuse of suspects and of whippings that happened in jails and detention centres throughout Montenegro. It included that a lot of grievances including criminal procedures did not lead to heavy charges. The Council of Europe Committee report likewise alerted of bad conditions in remand jails in Podgorica and Bijelo Polje, worrying that some pre-trial detainees are secured their cells for 23 hours a day for months. In the report, Committee stated living conditions in lots of cells were still affected by serious overcrowding.
CoE Report Urges Montenegro to Investigate Police Brutality
