This month Mary Page talks with Olga Sadovskaya, a lawyer from Nizhny Novgorod who works with Team Against Torture, a civil society group initially founded in 2000 as the Committee Against Torture. For over two decades the group’s members have been investigating complaints by Russians about torture and, thanks to their work, hundreds of cases of torture by law enforcement officers have reached the courts and compensation has been awarded to the victims in many cases. Furthermore, a considerable number of cases were won before the European Court of Human Rights. Olga Sadovskaya is the leading lawyer in the group specialising in taking cases to the European Court of Human Rights. Olga Sadovskaya continues to live and work in her native city of Nizhny Novgorod. She graduated from Lobachevsky State University with a degree in Public International Law, defending the first thesis in Russia on the prohibition of torture and the practice of the European Court of Human Rights on this issue. This interview was recorded on 11 July 2024
Mary’s Questions
- Since its inception, you have been associated with the Committee Against Torture (and now Team Against Torture). How did you come to take up human rights work in general – and what led you to focus on torture among the many human rights issues?
- You spent a fellowship year at Colby College. What experiences from that year stand out for you?
- Do you have a sense of how torture is understood by the public?
- What does Russian law say about torture?
- We know that in the last few years the Russian authorities have closed down many human rights groups, including the Moscow Helsinki Group and Memorial. Could you tell us something about the history of Team against Torture? When was it founded and how has it changed over the years? And could you tell us something about the law on ‘foreign agents’? What is it exactly and how has it affected the work of your organisation?
- Could you give us some examples of your successful work against torture over the years?
- How important has been the role of the European Court of Human Rights in your work?
- Could you give us an insight into how Russian courts tend to treat allegations of torture? Is it easy to win a case when there is strong evidence of such wrong-doing?
- How would you assess public opinion about torture in Russia these days? In particular, what about younger people? Are they interested in the work you do?
- Do you think that in the current situation in Russia it will continue to be possible for you to continue your work? How do you see your future – and that of your country?
