This article is from the source 'rtcom' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.rt.com/russia/536776-prison-officers-fired-torture-probe/

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Russian prison officers fired amid probe into shocking videos, purporting to show rape & torture of detainees in secure hospital Russian prison officers fired amid probe into shocking videos, purporting to show rape & torture of detainees in secure hospital
(12 days later)
Four prison officers in Russia's Saratov region have been dismissed amid growing outrage over harrowing footage released by a human rights group that reportedly shows staff abusing inmates at a penitentiary tuberculosis hospital. Four prison officers in Russia's Saratov region have been dismissed amid growing outrage over harrowing footage released by a human rights group that reportedly shows staff abusing inmates at a penitentiary tuberculosis hospital. 
Alexander Kalashnikov, the director of the federal prison service, fired the officers, including the head of the Saratov prison hospital, on Wednesday after videos were released online that claimed to show prisoners being tortured and sexually abused.Alexander Kalashnikov, the director of the federal prison service, fired the officers, including the head of the Saratov prison hospital, on Wednesday after videos were released online that claimed to show prisoners being tortured and sexually abused.
An investigation has been opened following the publication of the clips earlier this week, with verification of the authenticity of the material being handed over to the country's Investigative Committee for official confirmation.An investigation has been opened following the publication of the clips earlier this week, with verification of the authenticity of the material being handed over to the country's Investigative Committee for official confirmation.
One of over a thousand videos were leaked to Gulagu.net, purporting to prove that hundreds of people have been subject to humiliating and illegal treatment. One shows a man tied to a bed, his face covered, and his legs lifted in the air while a group of men violate him with a stick. Another of the released videos shows a man lying on his front as officers press a boot onto his back.One of over a thousand videos were leaked to Gulagu.net, purporting to prove that hundreds of people have been subject to humiliating and illegal treatment. One shows a man tied to a bed, his face covered, and his legs lifted in the air while a group of men violate him with a stick. Another of the released videos shows a man lying on his front as officers press a boot onto his back.
Vladimir Osechkin, the founder of the human rights platform, told the AFP news agency that "it is the first time that human rights defenders have obtained such a colossal amount of information proving the systemic nature of the torture."Vladimir Osechkin, the founder of the human rights platform, told the AFP news agency that "it is the first time that human rights defenders have obtained such a colossal amount of information proving the systemic nature of the torture."
"If the authenticity of these materials is confirmed, then, of course, this is a pretext for a serious investigation," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday, stressing that "first we must quickly, but calmly, establish the authenticity of these materials.""If the authenticity of these materials is confirmed, then, of course, this is a pretext for a serious investigation," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday, stressing that "first we must quickly, but calmly, establish the authenticity of these materials."
It is reported that the leaked videos make up a larger set of files that have been provided by a Belarusian whistleblower who allegedly served time in the Saratov facility.It is reported that the leaked videos make up a larger set of files that have been provided by a Belarusian whistleblower who allegedly served time in the Saratov facility.
Think your friends would be interested? Share this story!Think your friends would be interested? Share this story!
Dear readers and commenters,
We have implemented a new engine for our comment section. We hope the transition goes smoothly for all of you. Unfortunately, the comments made before the change have been lost due to a technical problem. We are working on restoring them, and hoping to see you fill up the comment section with new ones. You should still be able to log in to comment using your social-media profiles, but if you signed up under an RT profile before, you are invited to create a new profile with the new commenting system.
Sorry for the inconvenience, and looking forward to your future comments,
RT Team.