The complainant alleged that he had been subjected to torture by the police, who wanted him to confess to murder. The Committee determined that the State party had interfered with the complainant‟s right of petition and reaffirmed that a State party is required to abstain from any acts of intimidation or reprisal against complainants, their families and/or authorized representatives.

The Committee noted that the complainant had sent a notarized withdrawal letter with a copy to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with a translation from Russian into English, and that the complainant and his family were subjected to pressure at national level in connection with his communication. The Committee concluded that it had substantial reason to doubt that the withdrawal letter was prepared voluntarily and that the State party had interfered with the complainant‟s right of petition.