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Russian police routinely torture or abuse as many as half of their suspects, often using electroshock and asphyxiation techniques, a new study says. A two-year investigation by Human Rights Watch, an independent New York-based group, found disturbing evidence that Russian police are torturing suspects with almost complete impunity while prosecutors are closing their eyes to the widespread practice. There is overwhelming evidence that "torture has become an integral part of police practice," The group reached …

…in 1997 that Mr. Mikhailov was wrongly convicted, but the state prosecutor has not yet taken steps to overturn the conviction. Mr. Mikhailov, who spent more than four years in a death-row cell and has tried to commit suicide several times, is still in prison. Most Russians appear to be fully aware of the risk of torture or abuse at the hands of the police. About 60 per cent of crime victims do not report the crimes.