Multiple NGOs call to release some categories of Ukrainian POWs detained by Russia in 2014
Multiple civil society organizations are calling for the urgent release of certain categories of Ukrainian captives held by Russia since 2014.
Ukraine's civil society released the open letter to the global civil society in light of the Global Peace Summit and Ukraine's Peace Formula, which is set to take place in Switzerland on June 15–16.
The categories of Ukrainian prisoners in question are as follows:
- civilian detainees and children who were forcibly displaced, detained or transferred;
- POWs who are gravely wounded or gravely sick, or whose mental or physical well-being is endangered by captivity.
"We raise our voices in concern for the human rights abuses faced by Ukrainians held captive by Russia—both prisoners of war (POW) and civilian detainees. We call upon all parties to honour their commitments under international humanitarian law (IHL) and international human rights law (IHRL) to safeguard civilians and individuals no longer engaged in combat, including prisoners of war," the letter reads.
Ukraine's civil society calls on the global civil society to demand compliance with international law in terms of protection for prisoners of war and civilian hostages.
"All POWs who are gravely wounded or gravely sick, or whose mental or physical well-being is endangered by captivity must be repatriated to Ukraine or accommodated in neutral country, as guaranteed by art. 109 and 110 of the Third Geneva Convention. Available evidence and research suggest that the very lives and well-being of captives may well be endangered by the conditions of Russian captivity. All captives endangered by inhuman conditions of captivity must be released according to the same Convention and instruments such as mixed medical commissions (art. 112, already created in Ukraine)," the open letter states.
The signatories also demand that the ights of all Ukrainian captives be upheld until their eventual release.
The statement was signed by:
Amnesty International Ukraine
Lawyers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
NGO "Institute of Mass Information"
Women's Veteran Movement
Coalition of associations of families of missing and imprisoned Ukrainian soldiers "SAVE UKRAINIAN PRISONERS OF WAR"
Human Rights Center Pryncyp
Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union
Ukrainian Feminist Network for Freedom and Democracy
Center for Civil Liberties
The full letter is available here.
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