By Andrew Warshaw
May 2 – Fans travelling to Ukraine for the 2012 European Championships face over-zealous behaviour by an “out of control” police force, an Amnesty International report has warned.
In the latest blow to Ukraine’s preparations for the tournament, the human rights group has called for urgent reforms of the way the police operate in the Eastern European country.
Amnesty cites numerous cases in Euro 2012 host cities of people being tortured in an attempt to extort money, extract a confession, or simply because of the victims’ sexuality or ethnic origin.
Ukraine’s image has already been tarnished by a barrage of criticism not only about its transport infrastructure but also over its alleged mistreatment of political opponents.
European Commission President José Manuel Barroso and Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding have already announced they will boycott Euro 2012 in protest.
Ukraine will host 11 matches during the tournament in Kiev, Lviv, Donetsk and Kharkiv.
“The Ukrainian Government must take action now to stop widespread police criminality,” Amnesty International’s director John Dalhuisen insisted.
“Failure to do so will encourage them to continue acting as a law unto themselves and put Euro 2012 fans in danger from a force that is out of control.”
Amnesty International cited the cases of Ihor Savchyshyn and Andrei Semenyuk who were arrested following a disagreement in a bar, with CCTV footage showing them being robbed of £1,500 ($2,400/€1,800).
Police subjected the men to a brutal assault in which they were apparently punched, kicked, sprayed with tear gas and handcuffed.
The pair were then repeatedly struck with batons before being detained for 12 hours with no explanation.
Five of the policemen were subsequently arrested but the incident only came to light later.
“This case is yet another example of how the current system allows criminal behaviour by police officers to go unchecked in Ukraine – the authorities only took action when the media became involved,” Dalhuisen said.
“The country desperately needs a new and robust system for investigating crimes by police.”
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