20/02/2022 09:35

Commissioner: Forced mobilization is prohibited by international humanitarian law

The occupying country continues to violate the rights of residents living in ORDLO and have become de facto hostages of illegal armed groups.

The Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights learned that men from the village of Styla in the temporarily occupied territory of Donetsk, where ethnic Greeks live, are being forcibly removed from their homes under the pretext of being called up for war with Ukraine. In this regard, the villagers were forced to seek help and publicity from the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Greece to Ukraine.

It is already known that Andriy Vodolazkin, the father of three children, the youngest of whom is five years old, was taken away in an unknown direction. Another man is hiding from the occupying forces, fearing for his life.

In addition, residents of ORDLO are sent telephone messages about the need to come to the military registration and enlistment offices, and for evasion is threatened with criminal liability.

"Such actions are a manifestation of forced mobilization, prohibited by international humanitarian law. In particular, Article 51 of the Convention for the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War prohibits an occupying Power 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. , - Lyudmila Denisova emphasized.

The Commissioner appeals to the world community to respond to the facts of forced conscription of Ukrainian citizens in the temporarily occupied territories to the ranks of illegal armed groups supported by the aggressor country.