Violence and humiliation instead of justice: FEMEN activist tortured in Italian prison

After yesterday’s FEMEN action, which aimed to draw the world’s attention to Russia’s crimes against humanity and to remind us of the more than 700,000 Ukrainian children held captive by Putin, we have witnessed another shameful act. Instead of solidarity with those who are fighting for justice, the Italian police, together with the Vatican forces, showed the true face of lawlessness, repression and brutal humiliation of human dignity.

A young FEMEN activist Yana Fedoretst, a fragile girl who was only trying to remind the world of these horrific crimes, was arbitrarily detained and subjected to ill-treatment by law enforcement officers. Instead of ensuring her legal rights, the police took the following actions:

Prohibiting her from contacting the consulate. The detainee was deprived of the opportunity to contact representatives of her country, which is a blatant violation of international norms. Instead, the police stated that they had “written the letter” on their own, depriving the activist of her right to a lawyer.
Physical violence. Police officers used force: the activist was choked and forced to unlock her phone by violently poking the device directly in her face.
Complete disregard for human dignity. Neither food nor water was provided at the police station, creating conditions bordering on torture.
In addition, the police confiscated the activist’s phone, claiming that it was allegedly a tool “for criminal acts.” This cynical move, designed to justify their own brutality, is proof that the Italian police are acting outside the law.
Instead of supporting the struggle for human rights and drawing attention to the horrific crimes against Ukrainian children, the Vatican and its law enforcement agencies are showing their true colors – indifference to human dignity and willingness to suppress voices that dare to tell the world the truth.

We appeal to the international community, human rights organizations and independent media: do not ignore this case. The right to freedom, dignity and justice should not be a bargaining chip even in the highest spiritual centers of the world.
The world needs to know what is happening behind the walls of the Vatican. We demand an immediate investigation, the return of the illegally seized property, and the prosecution of all those involved in these shameful acts.