Obvious Torture Scenes Shock: Moscow's Message to Its Own Population

The recent images from the interrogation rooms cast a dark shadow over the Russian justice system. In a distressing sequence of recordings, the defendants, prejudged as suspected members of the terrorist organization ISIS, were presented to the public in horrifying conditions. Broken faces, mutilated bodies, some motionless in wheelchairs – the scenes appear to emerge from a cruel spectacle, filmed not out of a desire for enlightenment, but as evidence of relentless severity. While torture in states governed by authoritarian regimes is sadly not new, the openness with which these recordings are spread causes horror and consternation. Instead of reaching the public through the hands of courageous informants, the images were officially broadcast by the Russian side. A clear, albeit disturbing message, which the Kremlin intends to send with this. It seems as if Putin finds himself in a bind. For years, he has promised the Russian people security in exchange for the abrogation of freedom rights – a promise that has become fragile following the recent ISIS attacks in the heart of Russia. Now, confronted with the harsh reality of a security promise that has become unstable, Putin demonstrates with resolute rigidity how determined he is to fulfill this promise. The shocking effect of the images, which have reached not just a national but also a global audience, cannot be underestimated.