Lawyer: CIA paid Romania millions of dollars to host secret prisons

The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) paid Romania “millions of dollars” to host secret prisons, a lawyer said yesterday, during the first day of hearings at the European Court of Human Rights. Romania is accused of allowing CIA to torture suspects of terrorism on its territory within a secret rendition program during the presidency of George W. Bush, according to ABC News. Amrit Singh, the lawyer of Abd al-Rahim Al Nashirim, one of the men who was allegedly tortured in a CIA prison in Romania, said that Romania hosted CIA prisons between 2003 and 2005, with the “consent and complicity" of the Romanian Government. The Romanian authorities have denied the allegations. Catrinel Brumar, the representative of the Romanian Government, said that it takes more than speculations to prove the state’s responsibility. She added that an internal investigation is under way. The European Court of Human Rights will rule in a few months if Romania knowingly allowed CIA to operate secret prisons where torture was practiced and if it failed to prevent the torture of Abd al-Rahim Al Nashirim. Washington Post: Romania, among the countries which hosted CIA secret prisons, according to U.S. Senate report Report: Possible torture at CIA prison in Romania, infamous terrorists held in Bucharest, presidents accountable Foreign Affairs Ministry categorically denies existence of CIA prison in Romania editor@romania-insider.com