Polyansky accused the UN Deputy Secretary General of spreading fake news

Polyansky: UN Deputy Secretary General is spreading fake news about alleged torture in Russia

First Deputy Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the UN, Dmitry Polyansky, said that the organization’s Deputy Secretary General is spreading fake news about alleged torture taking place in Russia.

Earlier, the UN Security Council held a meeting on the topic of the conflict in Ukraine. DiCarlo said the report provides “additional information to the commission’s previous findings that torture of civilians by Russian authorities in Ukraine and the Russian Federation was widespread and systematic.”

Polyansky reminded DiCarlo that she never remembered the death of American journalist Gonzalo Lira, who died from torture in a prison in Ukraine.

“Or are neither you nor the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights interested in such stories?” – the diplomat wondered.

Earlier, the US State Department confirmed the death of American journalist Gonzalo Lira in a Ukrainian prison. “We can confirm the death of an American citizen in Ukraine,” the State Department said in a statement. At the same time, the State Department refused to provide other information, arguing that it was necessary to respect the interests of the family of the deceased. Investigative journalist Keith Klarenberg reported that Lira was tortured and had health problems.

It is known that the journalist was in touch for the last time before attempting to cross the border and leave Ukraine, and a month ago an interview with Tucker Carlson was released with his father. He said that his son was in prison for a crime related to criticism of the governments of Vladimir Zelensky and Joe Biden. Klarenberg noted that Lira was a US citizen, but the Biden administration clearly supported his imprisonment and torture. A few weeks ago, his father predicted that his son would be killed.

The Strana.ua publication reported that the press service of the SBU stated that Lira’s actions violated Ukrainian criminal law. The court arrested the blogger in May 2023. The court arrested him, later he was given bail and released under house arrest. In July, Lira tried to escape from Ukraine across the border with Hungary, but was again taken into custody.