Moscow informs OSCE on Yukos case arrestees

The Russian Foreign Ministry has informed the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) on arrestees upon the case of Russian oil giant YUKOS, a source in the Foreign Ministry's Information and Press Department was quoted as saying on Monday.

"Relevant explanations have been made in answer to allegations by non-governmental organisations that those under investigation or already sentenced, including on the YUKOS case, were not properly protected against abuses," the Foreign Ministry reported.

Reportedly, the OSCE's consultation on the prevention of torture, which was held in Vienna, focused on the issues of procedural guarantees in cases of arrest, prohibition to take inadmissible evidence and effective investigation and legal proceedings in cases of torture.

"The Russian delegation delivered a report on Russian laws and experience in this regard and measures to provide freedom from tortures or cruel, degrading treatment or punishment established by the international law," the department reports.

The OSCE's consultation on the prevention of torture was held in Vienna on November 6th-7th and attended by delegations from 34 countries and 64 international non-governmental organisations.