Poll: 47% of Russians consider torture of suspects acceptable

Radio Svoboda reports.

Almost half of Russians believe that in "exceptional cases" it is possible to use torture against suspects, for example, when it comes to suspects of serious violent crimes, according to a survey by the Russian Levada Center.

Over the past five years, this figure has increased by 19 percent - in 2019, less than a third of respondents were loyal to torture, the report states.

It is noted that only 35 percent of respondents are now categorically against the use of torture. Since 2019, this figure has almost halved from 59%. The rest of the respondents could not answer.

In part, sociologists attribute these results to the aftermath of the terrorist attack on the Moscow concert hall Crocus City Hall, which they believe shocked much of Russian society.

On March 22, several people armed with assault rifles broke into the concert hall on the outskirts of Moscow and began shooting at the audience. According to Russian investigative authorities, all the perpetrators and a number of accomplices have been arrested, most of them Tajik citizens. Four of the defendants were subjected to violence and alleged torture during and immediately after their arrest. One of them had a part of his ear cut off, another was allegedly tortured with electric shocks - the relevant photos were published by pro-war telegram channels.