The United Kingdom condemns the Russian state’s systematic torture, abuse, and execution of Ukrainian prisoners of war, which is a systematic violation of the Geneva Conventions.
Deirdre Brown, Deputy Ambassador of the UK Delegation to the OSCE, said this at a meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna on Thursday, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.
“Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, overwhelming evidence from international bodies, human rights organizations, and independent investigations demonstrates that Russia continues to disregard international law. The UK unequivocally condemns the Russian state’s reported systematic torture, abuse, and execution of Ukrainian prisoners of war,” she said.
The British diplomat stressed that the UN Commission of Inquiry “has concluded that Russia’s use of torture against POWs and civilian detainees amounts to crimes against humanity.”
“The testimonies gathered by the UN Commission of Inquiry highlight deliberate and systematic practices; and find a coordinated state policy of cruelty and impunity that underscores the Russian state’s complete disregard for international norms. The Geneva Conventions are clear: POWs must be treated humanely. Reporting from the UN and ODIHR outlines how Russia has not only failed in this obligation — it has systematically violated it,” Brown said.
The UK “demands an immediate end to all atrocities and calls for independent investigations to hold all perpetrators accountable; from those carrying out abuses to those ordering them.”
“Alongside our international partners, we will ensure that those responsible — at all levels of the Russian state — face justice,” Brown said.
She also stressed that the UK demands that the Russian state ensures the humane treatment of all those in detention and grants the ICRC unimpeded access to places of detention, in line with the Geneva Conventions.
“We continue to call on Russia to comply with International Humanitarian Law and not exploit prisoners of war and civilian detainees for political purposes. All those arbitrarily detained must be released, including our colleagues: the three Special Monitoring Mission members. We continue to call for their release,” Brown added.
Source: UK at OSCE condemns Russia's treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war
