The Office of the Prosecutor General held a joint meeting with the participation of law enforcement and other state bodies, dedicated to combating torture in law enforcement and penitentiary spheres, as well as implementing the Principles of Effective Interviewing during Investigations and Information Gathering (Mendez Principles). Despite the conditions of the full-scale armed aggression of the Russian Federation, the Office of the Prosecutor General is conducting systematic work aimed at protecting human rights and preventing torture and cruel treatment.

During the meeting, participants discussed current challenges in this area under martial law and identified additional steps to enhance the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies.

Particular attention was paid to Ukraine's Euro-integration commitments. Combating torture is an important component of the implementation of the Ukraine Facility program for 2024–2027 and the recommendations outlined in the European Union's annual report on Ukraine for 2024, which emphasizes the need to strengthen investigations into instances of torture and cruel treatment in places of detention. In this context, the implementation of the Roadmap on the Rule of Law, approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on May 14, 2025, was discussed, which defines a set of measures aimed at overcoming systemic issues of cruel treatment of individuals under state control and improving the effectiveness of investigations into relevant complaints.

As part of the implementation of the Strategy for Combating Torture in the Criminal Justice System for 2022–2025, a comprehensive set of legislative, organizational, and methodological measures has been implemented. In particular, amendments were made to Article 127 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which strengthened criminal liability for torture, increased the terms of punishment, excluded the possibility of exemption from criminal liability and punishment due to the expiration of limitation periods, and also prohibited the application of provisions on mitigation of punishment and probation release.

An interagency working group on combating torture has been established at the Office of the Prosecutor General, statistical reporting has been improved, and a separate accounting of appeals regarding such facts has been introduced. An anonymous electronic form for reporting torture is available on the official website of the Office of the Prosecutor General, which is under constant monitoring by the relevant unit.

During the meeting, the importance of implementing the Mendez Principles as an international standard for conducting interrogations without the use of violence was emphasized – based on respect for human dignity, voluntariness, professionalism, and scientifically grounded methods. Their implementation should ensure a rejection of illegal practices for obtaining testimony and increase public trust in justice.

As a result of the joint meeting held on December 23, 2025, the heads of law enforcement and other state bodies made a decision to take additional coordinated measures aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of human rights compliance during criminal proceedings and proper communication on these issues.