The leaders of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), including President Pia Kauma, have condemned Russia for systematic torture, executions and inhumane treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war.
This was reported on the OSCE PA website, Ukrinform saw.
“OSCE Parliamentary Assembly leaders, including President Pia Kauma (Finland), members of the Parliamentary Support Team for Ukraine, and the leadership of the Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs, today raised strong concerns about the Russian Federation’s treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs). Reports from the United Nations have indicated that over 95 per cent of released POWs have testified to violations of detention conditions, including torture, lack of medical care, and forced confessions,” the press release says.
As the OSCE PA leaders noted, Ukrainian prisoners of war have endured starvation, denial of medical care, beatings for speaking Ukrainian, and various forms of coercion, including physical, sexual, and psychological violence. Verified evidence, including a photograph of a Ukrainian soldier released from captivity with severe scars and words “glory to Russia” burned into his body, underscores the horrific conditions faced by POWs.
“We strongly condemn the systematic violations of international law, the laws and customs of war, particularly the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War (1949) and the Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts (1977), by the Russian Federation,” OSCE PA leaders said.
They called on Russia to comply with the Geneva Conventions, ensure humane treatment of prisoners of war and bring those responsible for violating their rights to justice.
“Further, we urge the international community to support the safe return of all Ukrainian civilians and POWs from Russian captivity,” the OSCE PA leaders said.
As Ukrinform reported earlier, Andriy Yusov, a spokesman for the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, confirmed that the photo of a soldier with the inscription “glory of Russia” carved on his body and circulating on social media is real. According to the official, this is a photo of a Ukrainian soldier released from Russian captivity.
Yusov also stated that Russia has created an entire system of torture of prisoners of war. At the same time, the structures responsible for monitoring compliance with and protection of the Geneva Conventions and humanitarian law are not working in Russia.
Source: OSCE PA leaders condemn Russia for torture, executions of Ukrainian POWs
