On 11 May 2026, Dr. habil. Denis Solodov, Professor at the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, participated in the international scientific conference entitled “Five Years of the Méndez Principles: From Vision to Practice”, held at Özyeğin University in Istanbul, Türkiye. The conference was organised within the framework of COST Action CA22128 “ImpleMéndez”.

The event brought together representatives of academia, experts, and practitioners from numerous European countries specialising in human rights, interviewing standards, and the implementation of the Méndez Principles in institutional practice.

The conference was opened by:

• Prof. Dr. Özlem Yenerer Çakmut — Dean of the Faculty of Law, Özyeğin University (Türkiye),
• Prof. Dr. Barış Tan — Rector of Özyeğin University (Türkiye),
• Prof. Dr. Dave Walsh — Chair of COST Action CA22128 ImpleMéndez (UK).

The keynote lecture was delivered by Prof. Dr. Juan E. Méndez — former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Professor at Washington College of Law, American University (USA). In his presentation entitled “The Mendez Principles: Building Ethical Interviewing Cultures: Progress and Prospects”, he discussed the development and significance of the Méndez Principles in the context of ethical interviewing standards.

The first discussion panel, entitled “Where Do We Go From Here? Future Challenges & Opportunities”, was moderated by Prof. Dr. Kristjan Kask (Tallinn University, Estonia) and Prof. Dr. Özlem Yenerer Çakmut (Özyeğin University, Türkiye). The speakers included:

• Prof. Dr. Ray Bull (University of Derby, UK),
• Prof. Dr. Dave Walsh (Maynooth University, Ireland).

The second panel focused on the challenges and prospects of implementing the Méndez Principles across Europe. It was moderated by Prof. Dr. Özlem Yenerer Çakmut and featured:

• Prof. Dr. Kristjan Kask (Tallinn University, Estonia),
• Prof. Dr. Yvonne Daly — Action Vice Chair, Dublin City University (Ireland),
• Dr. Nils Muižnieks — Secretary General of the Association for the Prevention of Torture (Switzerland).

The afternoon session included the panel “Diversity in Implementation. National and Pan-European Experiences”, moderated by Prof. Dr. Iva A. Fahsing (University of Oslo, Norway) and Assoc. Prof. Hamid Başeğmez (Özyeğin University, Türkiye).

During this panel, representatives from various European countries presented their experiences:

• Dr. Hanna Laitinen (University of Eastern Finland),
• Prof. Dr. Julia Korkman (Åbo Akademi),
• Assoc. Prof. Denis Solodov (University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn),
• Dr. Olga Mazur (Detention Centre in Kraków).

Further presentations were delivered by:

• Prof. Dr. Feyzenev Reva (Özyeğin University),
• Asst. Prof. Eren Çetin (Turkish National Police Academy),
• Therese Ryf, MA — Association for the Prevention of Torture (Switzerland).

The conference programme included scientific presentations, panel discussions, and exchanges of experiences concerning the implementation of international standards in the field of human rights protection and investigative interviewing tactics. Participants discussed, among other topics, the practical application of ethical interviewing principles, contemporary challenges related to the protection of interviewees’ rights, and the role of scientific research in the development of international standards.