CAT/C/54/D/556/2013 paragraph 2 (participation in an illegal group), and article 222 (illegal possession and sale of firearms). 4.14 The State party submits that, during his interview with the Migration Board, the complainant claimed that his brother was released from prison on 16 December 2010, after which time he joined rebel forces. The complainant himself was arrested on 5 August 2011, eight months after his brother’s disappearance. However, on 27 October 2011, the complainant informed the Board that he was arrested six months after the disappearance of his brother. When questioned about his brother’s whereabouts, the complainant could not clearly establish that his brother had indeed joined rebel forces. In addition, the fact that the search at the complainant’s home was conducted while he was not there shows that the Russian authorities had no interest in the complainant personally. 4.15 Regarding the arrest warrant presented to the Migration Board on 13 May 2013, the State party submits that such documents are not normally communicated to the wanted individual, in this case, the complainant. The Board considered the document to be very simple and therefore of low probative value. The State party contends that the complainant has not provided any medical documentation showing that he was subjected to torture or illtreatment. Apart from a scar on his eyebrow, the complainant stated that there were no visible scars or other injuries on his body from the torture he had allegedly suffered. The complainant’s comments on the State party’s observations on admissibility and the merits 5.1 In reply to the State party’s observations, on 14 April 2014, the complainant submitted that the human rights situation was significantly different from the State party’s description. The complainant referred to the same report published by the Swedish Foreign Office that the State party referenced, which is available in Swedish only. According to that report, the Russian administration is characterized by widespread corruption, and human rights activists, journalists and whistle-blowers are harassed and subjected to sometimes fatal violence. The most serious violations still occur in the northern Caucasus, where, in the name of fighting terrorism, the civilian population is subjected to torture, arbitrary arrests and kidnappings. 5.2 The complainant also refers to unconfirmed reports of political murders and disappearances that are sanctioned by the authorities. This clearly demonstrates a consistent pattern of gross, flagrant or mass violations of human rights. Several organizations have stated that, in Chechnya, there is an atmosphere of terror and a climate of pervading fear. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has called for accountability for murders, intimidation and harassment. 5.3 The complainant submits that, while the Migration Board and the Migration Court are in a good position to assess the information submitted by asylum applicants, they do not have first-hand knowledge of the situation in the countries of origin, which is especially evident in the present case. The complainant also submits that his follow-up interview on 23 November 2011 was conducted in Russian, which is a foreign language for him. Minor inconsistencies in testimonies should not be considered as damaging to the veracity or credibility of the whole story. 5.4 The complainant further submits that the State party should have referred him to an expert in forensic medicine to verify injuries that were inflicted when the complainant was tortured. Furthermore, the criminal law and criminal procedure law in the Russian Federation, specifically in Chechnya, cannot be described as adhering to the principles of justice and the rule of law. The complainant submits that he cannot seek protection in Chechnya, or any other part of the Russian Federation, bearing in mind that the 7