GENEVA — 

U.N. investigators have accused Russian authorities of disregarding basic human rights principles and causing untold suffering to Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians by subjecting them to appalling treatment.

The United Nations Human Rights Council received the most recent report from the Independent International Commission of Inquiry about Ukraine. In their findings, the investigators revealed a scathing depiction of Russian offenses against international human rights and humanitarian laws, including acts of war, in Ukrainian regions under its authority.

During a press conference on Friday in Geneva, Erik Mose, the Chair of the Commission, stated that the report’s main focus is on instances of torture against Ukrainian prisoners of war. The report also outlines the deeply disturbing mistreatment of POWs in various detention facilities in the Russian Federation.

The speaker stated that newly discovered evidence supports the commission’s previous conclusions that Russian authorities have been utilizing widespread and organized torture in Ukraine and Russia. The victims’ testimonies reveal continuous and cruel mistreatment that causes severe pain and suffering during extended periods of detention, demonstrating a complete disregard for human dignity. This has resulted in lasting physical and mental damage.

The chair of the commission, Mose, informed reporters that the Russian government has received the report and has been given a chance to give their input on the preliminary version.

The speaker expressed disappointment in the fact that the Russians did not reply to any of the drafts sent during this reporting period or on this occasion.

The report will be formally unveiled on Monday during a meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council. While Russia has the opportunity to provide a response, they have frequently chosen to abstain from attending such gatherings in the past.

The report encompasses the timeframe of April 2023 to March 2024. Within this time frame, the commission made 16 trips to Ukraine, visited 34 communities in nine provinces, and conducted interviews with 816 individuals.

Allegations of torture

Mose reported that the commission investigated reliable accounts of torture occurring in 11 detention facilities: seven in regions controlled by Russia in Ukraine and four in the Russian Federation.

He stated that the detainees in the facilities were subjected to physical assaults, verbal mistreatment, and the utilization of electronic devices on various body parts. He also mentioned that the overall treatment endured for extended periods, which led to a horrifying situation.

The document records cases of sexual assault and other forms of sexual violence inflicted upon women in situations that could be considered as torture. It also discusses occurrences of torture that involve sexual aspects, as well as instances where male prisoners of war have been threatened with rape by prison guards.

According to Vrinda Grover, a member of the commission, there were also cases of male prisoners being physically violated by having their bodies touched, a degrading experience.

The commission’s investigation revealed that Russian soldiers committed acts of rape and sexual assault against girls and women, ranging from 15 to 83 years old. These actions typically occurred during house searches while family members were present.

She stated that these actions are breaches of global human rights and also constitute the war crime of sexual assault and violence.

Mariupol

The report evaluates the serious consequences that civilians have faced during the three-month-long battle for Mariupol. This conflict began on February 24, 2022 when Russia entered Ukraine.

Mose stated that inhabitants have recounted unendurable agony as a result of continuous shelling and air attacks, resulting in extensive fatalities, injuries, and devastation.

He reported that individuals who were interviewed remembered witnessing a significant amount of deceased bodies on the streets.

“He stated that a woman who escaped on foot to a nearby village described it as the path to death, capturing the overwhelming sense of terror.”

This is the first time the commission has recorded instances of Russian authorities targeting cultural property and confiscating cultural objects. One specific instance involved the transfer of cultural objects from the Kherson Regional Art Museum to the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

According to Grover, the commission determined that cultural property was unlawfully taken and that the seizure of the enemy’s property was considered a war crime by Russian authorities.

Transfer of children

Russia’s forced relocation of Ukrainian children to territories controlled by them is a highly emotional topic for the Ukrainian people. The Ukrainian government believes that approximately 20,000 children have been removed from Ukraine, granted Russian citizenship, and offered for adoption to Russian families.

According to the commission’s investigations, there is new proof regarding the illegal transfer of children to areas controlled by Russia. The most recent report from the commission specifically highlights the situation of 46 Ukrainian children from Kherson Regional Children’s Home who were taken to Crimea on October 21, 2022 by Russian authorities.

Grover stated that the commission has determined the transfer to Crimea was not a temporary action and therefore constitutes a war crime of illegal transfer.

Source: voanews.com