04/10/2024
By Ishtwan Kamel
On October 1, 2024, Russian troops executed 16 Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) near Pokrovsk. A video shared on social media is a brutal act that caused a stir in society. This is another indication of Russia’s gross violation of international humanitarian law. Ukrainian POW servicemen on the video were forced to leave the forest and stand in a line under the control of Russian troops. Then, the Russian military intentionally shot them. Those wounded, who still showed signs of life, were shot at point–blank range.
This crime was the most massive known case of group execution of Ukrainian POW on the front line. Such murders and torture are not an accident, but an intentional policy of Russia. An investigation of this war crime was opened. Appeals were sent to the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) with the requirement to punish the perpetrators and pay attention to the gross violations of international humanitarian law.
The international community must realize that this is not an isolated case, but permanent acts. Russia has repeatedly demonstrated disregard for international norms of humane treatment of prisoners of war. In addition to the execution near Pokrovsk, there have been other similar cases. For example, earlier the Russians brutally executed an unarmed Ukrainian POW with a sword, and also shot prisoners in Robotyne near Zaporizhzhia.
And what about Russia with respect to all that? Do you know they do have an ombudsman Tatyana Moskal’kova who hypothetically must at least supervise the detained people human rights respect and in practice put all her efforts to avoid such brutal violations of Geneva Convention. According to the law ‘On the Ombudsman for Human Rights in the Russian Federation,’ the ombudsman is supposed to help restore violated rights, and his/her work involves monitoring the complying the legislation and the interests of civilians. From Tatyana Moskalkova point of view, however, this means ‘defending the system of values in Russia.’
The senseless reports about the disruption of the prisoner exchange because of implausible demands allegedly made by the Ukrainian side. She constantly lies about the existence of some sort of ‘humanitarian corridor’ for conveying of belongings, letters and notes written by military servicemen children. The numerous public statements that ‘the Ukrainian military leadership is in no hurry to return military servicemen to their families and friends, putting forward more and more absurd conditions’ – this is just a small part of the daily painstaking work of Tatyana Moskal’kova.
By discrediting the institution of ombudsman, which has existed since 1809, Tatyana Moskalkova stubbornly turns a blind eye to the blatant and confirmed facts of abuse, torture and murder of Ukrainian prisoners of war.
Tatyana Moskal’kova job is densely mixed with lies, manipulation and the dissemination wild propaganda. She considers Ukrainian methods of protection its Motherland from Russian invaders are barbaric and appeals to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to ‘condemn terrorism from Ukrainian side and take actions’.
From time to time, it may seems that Russian ombudsman lives in her parallel reality and she has her own version of Geneva Convention which she’s following very strictly. Thus she does not feel any pangs of conscience because in her own universe everything is in order.
While Russia systematically violates all norms of the Geneva Convention, denying ICRC representatives access to Ukrainian prisoners, Ukraine acts differently. The Ukrainian side provides Russian prisoners of war with proper conditions of detention, including food, medical care and the opportunity to communicate with relatives. These conditions are regularly checked by the International Committee of the Red Cross, which confirms that the treatment of prisoners complies with international standards. Such measures demonstrate Ukraine’s commitment to the humanitarian principles and respect for human rights.
In contrast, the conditions of detention of Ukrainian prisoners of war in Russia are inhumane. Prisoners live in unsanitary conditions and extremely crowded cells, and are subjected to torture and ill-treatment. There have been numerous cases of death in captivity from torture and disease, which only confirms Russia’s systematic violation of international law. The treatment of Ukrainian prisoners not only contradicts the Geneva Convention, but is also an example of barbaric treatment of a person deprived of protection.
Such actions cannot go unpunished. It is in need a tough response from the international community to violations of international humanitarian law committed by Russia. There is a necessity to increase pressure on Russia to comply with the Geneva Convention and other norms protecting the rights of prisoners of war. The UN and the ICRC must take an active role in investigating these crimes and bringing those responsible to justice.
At the same time, the international community should support Ukraine’s initiative to adopt a resolution in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) aimed at ensuring compliance with international humanitarian law in relation to Ukrainian prisoners of war captured by Russia. This is an important measure to make the aggressor to comply with the laws of war and punish those responsible for the committed crimes.
Silence in response to such brutal acts amounts to complicity. The international community must not allow such crimes to go unpunished. The systematic executions and torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war are not only a crime against specific individuals, but also a flagrant violation of all civilized norms and principles which should guide each country in the 21st century.