UN Human Rights Chief Slams Russia’s war in Ukraine – CNN”>Russia‘s War Crimes in Ukraine, Draws Criticism from Kyiv
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has released its 41st periodic report detailing human rights violations stemming from the war in Ukraine. The document catalogs systematic crimes committed by Russia, including attacks on civilian infrastructure, executions, torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war, and illegal property confiscation in temporarily occupied territories.
However, the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, Lyudmyla Denysova, has taken issue with several findings in the UN report. She lambasted the omission of certain remarks and recommendations provided by her office, stating, "I categorically disagree with this."
Denysova pointed to the UN’s description of torture cases involving Russian prisoners of war in transit points, a topic currently under investigation by the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine. She confirmed that ongoing checks are being conducted by the Joint Coordination Staff, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and the Ministry of Defense.
Meanwhile, Denysova emphasizes that the conditions for Russian prisoners of war align with the Geneva Conventions. Regular visits to facilities housing these prisoners, conducted jointly with public organization representatives, affirm their treatment is in line with international law.
Ukraine is calling on the UN to acknowledge the scale difference in international humanitarian law violations between the two nations. Denysova underscores the severe mistreatment suffered by Ukrainians returning from Russian captivity, stating, "We see how Ukrainians return from Russian captivity – they were subjected to torture, psychological pressure, and denied adequate medical care. Some even have life-threatening injuries."
Denysova also slammed the UN’s concluding recommendations that both Russia and Ukraine should adhere to international humanitarian law norms. She argues, "I am outraged that, given the current context, the UN includes concluding recommendations for Russia and Ukraine to respect IHL [International Humanitarian Law]. This equals the scales of violations, which is unacceptable."
While the UN report expresses concern over Ukraine’s new religious laws, Kyiv reaffirms its commitment to protecting religious freedoms. However, the UN does note the passage of new legal provisions prohibiting the activities of the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine and Ukrainian religious organizations linked to Russian counterparts.
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