WASHINGTON, December 16 (Sputnik) – The United States considers tortures occurring in the country justifiable, but views the practice as unacceptable for Russia, Former Russian Human Rights Commissioner Vladimir Lukin has told Sputnik.
"In every country that happens, and from the point of view of the United States what happens in the United Sates is positive tortures," Lukin said Monday, stressing that "in America's point of view Russia's tortures are awful, and absolutely unacceptable".
Lukin, who has also served as Russian Ambassador to the United States, suggested that instead of accusing each other of cruel practices, Washington and Moscow should exchange views on how to eliminate torture in both countries.
On Sunday, former US Vice President Dick Cheney said that CIA officials involved in American enhanced interrogation techniques should be praised and "deserve to be decorated", instead of being "harassed".
The announcement came after a report on CIA tortures was released by the US Senate Intelligence Committee. The report summarizes a four-year investigation into CIA interrogation techniques, which include waterboarding, forced nudity, threats of sexual assault, prolonged sleep deprivation and mock executions.
The US Justice Department has stated that it was not planning to launch investigations into CIA torture claims.
