MOSCOW, June 6 - RAPSI. The European Court of Human Rights has ordered the Russian authorities to pay 45,000 euros to Vitaly Buntov for the ruthless torture he underwent while in prison, according to the report published on the court's web site.

Buntov filed a complaint with the Strasbourg court against prison staff in Tula region, where he was serving a 25-year term for murder.

He claims the prison staff tortured him because he refused to cooperate with the prison management.

Federal Penitentiary Service has denied the allegations, while the Investigative Committee refused to initiate criminal proceedings due to lack of evidence. The committee has said that it looked into Buntov's complaints of torture several times, but found no proof of his claim.

Buntov sought compensation from Russia for the breach of the European Convention on human rights and liberties which condemns torture. The court sided with the claimant and awarded him 45,000 euros. The court also ordered Russia to pay his legal expenses, which amount to nearly 10,000 euros.