On 8-9 and 15-16 October 2026, workshops on “Effective Investigation of Torture and Ill-treatment” were held in Kyiv, bringing together 30 investigators of the Main Investigation Department of the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) from its specialised unit responsible for investigating crimes involving torture and other forms of ill-treatment committed by law enforcement officials.
The events aimed to improve practical approaches to investigating torture and ill-treatment in accordance with the standards of the European Convention on Human Rights (Convention) and the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR, Court). Particular attention was paid to strengthening the capacity of the SBI’s specialised unit in the context of Ukraine’s execution of the ECtHR judgments in the Kaverzin v. Ukraine group of cases, which concern, among other issues, systemic problems relating to ineffective investigations into complaints of ill-treatment by law enforcement officials.
Effective investigation of torture and ill-treatment, particularly by law enforcement officials, is an essential prerequisite for ensuring accountability for human rights violations, preventing impunity and strengthening public trust in the justice system. For the SBI, which plays a key role in investigating criminal offences committed by law enforcement officials, the consistent application of European standards in pre-trial investigation practices is of particular importance.
The key focus of the workshops was the shift from formal compliance with procedural requirements towards ensuring the genuine effectiveness of investigations. Through practical exercises and professional discussions, participants examined the criteria of independence, promptness, adequacy and public scrutiny of investigations, as well as victim participation, in light of the ECtHR case-law, including cases concerning Ukraine. Particular attention was paid to how these criteria should be taken into account when making specific procedural decisions, collecting evidence and assessing the completeness of investigations.
A separate area of discussion focused on the State’s obligation to effectively investigate violations of Article 3 of the Convention in the context of war. Despite the additional challenges posed by martial law, ensuring an appropriate response to allegations of torture and ill-treatment remains an integral part of Ukraine’s international obligations and an important element in strengthening the rule of law.
As SBI investigator Yevhen Boholiub noted: “Investigating alleged torture by SBI investigators at the hands of a law enforcement officer is particularly complex: the state must objectively scrutinise the actions of its own representative. This is precisely why the independence of the investigation, the quality of the evidence and the timeliness of procedural decisions are of fundamental importance. The value of this training for the SBI’s specialised units lies in the opportunity to analyse these issues using practical examples and to examine their own work through the lens of Council of Europe standards.”
Practical significance of ECtHR judgments for improving national investigation mechanisms was on the top of the agenda too. Participants analysed systemic problems that lead to violations of the Convention, as well as issues related to conducting investigations following communication of respective judgments to the Government. During a dedicated session, the Government’s Agent worked with participants on practical aspects of processing Court findings and decisions of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in a way to prevent recurrence of similar violations in future.
The practical format of the workshops provided opportunities for professional exchange, joint analysis of challenges and solutions that can be directly applied in investigators’ daily work.
The workshops were organised by the Council of Europe within the framework of the project “Strengthening Ukrainian Law Enforcement Agencies During War and Post-War Period – Phase II”, in cooperation with the State Bureau of Investigation. The project is implemented within the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine “Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction” for 2023-2026.
