04/04/2022 14:45

Russia grossly violates the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War

These facts were confirmed during the last release of Ukrainian citizens from enemy captivity.

Ukrainian soldiers told of the inhumane treatment of them by the russian side: they were kept in a field, in a pit, in a garage.  Periodically, one was taken out: beaten with butts, shot in the ear, intimidated.

The guys from Snake Island, who were towed to Sevastopol, were used by local reporters for propaganda purposes, telling about the humane russian authorities, who organized the delivery of prisoners home.

Instead, the prisoners of war were taken away in an unknown direction and housed in a tent camp at an air temperature of -20 degrees, as a result of which many boys had frostbite.  They were treated like prisoners, morally oppressed, and a dog was let down while walking in the yard.

Such actions by Russia are a violation of Article 13 of the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, which emphasizes the humane treatment of prisoners of war.  In addition, prisoners of war must always be protected, in particular from acts of violence or intimidation, as well as from public insults and curiosity.

In violation of Article 26 of the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, Ukrainian citizens were sometimes starved for several days.

I call on the UN Commission for Investigation Human Rights Violations of the Russian Invasion of Ukraine and the expert mission set up by the OSCE participating States under the Moscow Mechanism to take into account these violations of the rights of Ukrainian prisoners of war.