“Upholding Humanity: UK’s Strong Call for Russia to Respect POW and Civilian Rights at the UN”

As we near the somber three-year anniversary of Russia’s comprehensive invasion of Ukraine, the UK, alongside many others present, are profoundly troubled by accounts of systematic maltreatment of detainees, several of whom we will hear from today, as well as specialists like Pablo de Grieff from the Independent Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine.

Some of the most alarming accounts pertain to torture.

Reports from the UN Human Rights Office, the Independent Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, and the Moscow Mechanism have consistently documented the maltreatment and torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) by Russian officials. In recent months, these evaluations have continued to deteriorate.

The Commission of Inquiry has determined that Russia’s employment of torture against POWs and civilian detainees constitutes crimes against humanity, and their findings are disturbing.

They detail instances where detainees have faced beatings, psychological manipulation, extended periods of forced positions, and simulated executions.

The investigations indicate that interrogations are frequently accompanied by the most severe forms of torture, such as burns and electric shocks intensified by water.

Sexual violence is commonplace for detainees, both males and females, with POWs suffering from rape, assaults on their genitalia, and threats of sexual mutilation and castration.

The Commission of Inquiry has concluded that Russian authorities have breached both international humanitarian law and human rights standards, committing torture as a crime against humanity.

Furthermore, the Ukrainian Prosecutor-General’s Office notes that 147 Ukrainian POWs have been executed by Russian troops since the onset of the full-scale invasion. This represents yet another infringement of international humanitarian law.

Russia bears the responsibility to guarantee that prisoners of war and civilian detainees are treated with humanity, in accordance with the third and fourth Geneva Conventions.

Colleagues, these incidents are not mere isolated actions by rogue agents.

Testimonies collected by the Commission of Inquiry indicate that Russian state agencies collaborated and enforced these violent practices.

Evidence suggests a coordinated state policy that permits Russian officials to humiliate and punish Ukrainian civilians and POWs without restraint.

Simultaneously, the reports emphasize that the families of the detained are kept uninformed regarding the locations of their loved ones, who are enduring this abuse.

Those who manage to be released must face the severe psychological repercussions and a lengthy and challenging path to reintegration.

The Commission of Inquiry acknowledges the assistance provided to released individuals in Ukraine and encourages sustained medical and psychological support for all victims.

The UK urges Russia to fulfill its international responsibilities towards all individuals in its custody, as we expect from every nation currently in conflict.

Specifically, we request that Russia disclose the full names of all detainees in its custody, their locations, and the reasons for their detention.

We demand that the Russian Federation guarantees the humane treatment of all individuals in detention and permits the ICRC unhindered access to detention sites, consistent with the Geneva Conventions.

Lastly, we urge Russia to adhere to its commitments under international humanitarian and human rights law, and to release all arbitrarily detained civilians and POWs.

Today, colleagues, we will hear invaluable insights from those who have survived the atrocities of this situation.

I am accompanied by Valerii Horishnii, Nariman Dzhelyal, and Maksym Butkevych to my right. Thank you all for being here.