Ombudsman appeals to ICRC and UN over murder of Ukrainian prisoner of war
Dmytro Lubinets, Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights (photo: facebook.com/dmytro.lubinets)
The Russian militants cut off the head and limbs of a supposedly Ukrainian prisoner of war and posted the photo on social media. The Ukrainian side has already appealed to the ICRC and the UN, states ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets.
"This is not just a violation of the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, it is the behavior of inhumans," the ombudsman wrote.
He noted that according to international humanitarian law, no prisoner of war may be subjected to physical injury, violence, or murder.
Given the horrific footage, Lubinets urgently appealed to the
- ICRC and the UN to record another human rights violation by the terrorist country;
- Ukrainian law enforcement agencies to verify the identity of the killed prisoner and the fact of this crime.
Lubinets also emphasized that prisoners of war are in the hands of an enemy state, and it is this state that is responsible for their treatment. Therefore, responsibility for killing and maiming lies not only with Russian soldiers but also with Russia itself.
The Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights noted that the ongoing war is a hybrid war. Therefore, by distributing similar photos and videos on social media and taking such actions, the enemy wants to intimidate Ukrainians, both civilians and military.
"As if to show what they are capable of. But looking at such footage, one thing is clear: it is impossible to forget and forgive! There must be punishment for crimes," Lubinets summarized.
Recently, on the second anniversary of the terrorist attack in Olenivka, Lubinets called on the UN to resume work on the investigation of the murder of Ukrainian prisoners of war. He emphasized that this crime has no statute of limitations.
Lubinets also called on the UN and the OSCE to respond to the Russian shelling of the temporarily occupied Volnovakha in Donetsk region. A 76-year-old man was killed in the shelling on August 2. There is also a wounded person.
"Today, the Russians shelled my hometown of Volnovakha, a settlement that is under temporary occupation. That is, in fact, in order to organize a provocation, the aggressor country itself is shelling the territories under its control," Lubinets said.
