By Dan Grennan

Copyright dailystar

Vladimir Putin has signed a law denouncing the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture. Documentation of the enacted legislation was uploaded onto Russia’s official website for legal acts. The Russian Federation has been part of the convention since they signed a treaty on February 28, 1996. Speaker of Russia ‘s State Duma (lower house of parliament) Vyacheslav Volodin claimed the Council of Europe has been blocking Russia from electing a representative to the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture since December 2023. Mad Vlad’s latest move comes as a new report is said to contain details of how Ukrainian civilians and prisoners are being tortured by Russian forces. Gang rapes, electric shocks, beatings to genitals, beatings while nude, stab wounds to genital areas, burning of nipples of males, the use of stun guns to the genital area and threats of castration are all alleged in the research due to be presented to the UN on October 15. A common method of torture involves using an old Soviet hand-crank TA-57 field telephone to administer electric shocks to the genitals and other sensitive areas. The wires of the old technology are attached to reproductive organs, ears and fingers. The pain is said to be excruciating as the archaic machines are capable of delivering an 80 volt shock. The method is called a “call to Lenin” or “call to Putin” by Russian soldiers. UN special rapporteur on torture Dr Alice Jill Edwards said “the scale is really off the charts about how many people who are detained are subjected to some form of degrading or inhumane treatment”. She added Russia was “showing the worst of humanity” in Ukraine . Ms Edwards told The Telegraph victims of sexual torture have been men, women and children. She said: “This is widespread and systematic, amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity. “It’s Putin himself and [foreign minister Sergei] Lavrov who have responsibility for these types of policies. “Ukraine’s ministry of internal aairs says that since the start of Russia’s fullscale invasion in February 2022, Ukrainian police have initiated 127 criminal proceedings into sexual violence against at least 205 people. There were 363 documented cases of sexual violence against civilians reported by Ukraine in June. Horrifically, 19 reports were against children. The cases included threats and attempts of rape as well forcing victims to watch sexual violence against family members. If you or somebody you know has been affected by this story, contact Victim Support for free, confidential advice on 08 08 16 89 111 or visit their website, Home – Victim Support . For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters .