The Start of Illegitimate Trials Against Ukrainian POWs

by Meifan Honcharuk
Friday, July 28, 2023
2 MIN
The Start of Illegitimate Trials Against Ukrainian POWs

On July 20 in Rostov-on-Don were imprisoned 18 defenders of the Donetsk region 

The Rostov-on-Don court is conducting exemplary trials to prepare for the sentencing of soldiers of the Aidar regiment for "participation in a terrorist organisation, seizure of power, change of the constitutional order of the Donetsk People's Republic". It is well known that the arrest of Ukrainian defenders was extended until November 13. The Ukrainian parliamentary commissioner reported this for human rights Dmytro Lubinets.

The exhibition court wants to punish people who defended their homeland from the capture and arbitrariness of the administrators of the unrecognised Donetsk People's Republic. Criminal prosecution of the Ukrainian military, who are in captivity, and false accusations harm the moral health of fighters and their relatives. Some Ukrainian prisoners have been in Russian hands for almost 1.5 years. All this time, their relatives are waiting for exchanges of prisoners of war and hope for a miracle.

However, what is happening also violates the authority of the world community and international organizations. It is worth recalling the terrorist attack in Olenivka, in which Russia killed about 50 prisoners of war of the Azov regiment. No international expert has yet been allowed on the scene.

"The world must respond to such shameful trials of the defenders of Ukraine. After all, it is obvious to everyone that the defendants should not be those who defend themselves but those who came to foreign territories with weapons in their hands. Once again, I emphasise that such trials are another gross violation by the invaders of the Geneva Convention, for which the aggressor country must stand trial," Dmytro Lubinets wrote.

You will be interested