17/04/2022 16:23

Commissioner: the occupiers mobilize cultural figures, university students and their teachers

In the temporarily occupied territory of Donetsk region, the occupiers continue to recruit "volunteers" from various non-military institutions.

Cultural figures in the city of Donetsk came under "voluntary mobilization".

Information about the death of the famous pianist of the Donetsk Philharmonic and the ensemble "Septet-Jazz" in the battle near Mariupol appeared on the city's social networks.

In total, it is noted that 55 musicians were forcibly sent to the line of contact as "volunteers" without minimal military training.

Students of universities, technical colleges and their teachers, even of pre-retirement age, were also mobilized.

Forced mobilization in the occupied territories is a violation of Article 51 of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War.  It strictly prohibits the occupying State from forcing persons under protection, ie those under the control of a party to the conflict or an occupying State of which they are not nationals, to serve in its armed or auxiliary forces.

I appeal to the UN Commission for Investigation Human Rights Violations during Russia's military invasion of Ukraine to take into account these facts of war crimes and human rights violations in Ukraine.