UN denounces requirement for residents of annexed Ukrainian regions to adopt Russian nationality
Residents of Ukrainian regions under Moscow’s control are virtually forced to adopt Russian nationality, the United Nations (UN) denounced on Monday, stressing that those who oppose it risk detention. “In the territory of Ukraine occupied by the Russian Federation, we observed with deep concern a policy of mass granting of Russian citizenship to residents”declared the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nada Al-Nashif, before the Human Rights Council in Geneva.
She claimed that people who choose not to accept the Russian passport “find themselves trapped”, being denied access to essential public services such as health. This situation, she explained, “also increases the risk of arbitrary detention for those who resist”. This Russian tactic is not new: Russia has for years been distributing passports to Russian-speaking Ukrainians in the East, in areas controlled by pro-Russian separatists, as well as in annexed Crimea.
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, however, this campaign has become more aggressive. According to experts and residents interviewed by Agence France-Presse, routine procedures – payment of benefits, obtaining or maintaining employment, access to medical treatment – are conditional on documents issued by the Russia. In April, Russian President Vladimir Putin even signed a decree providing that Ukrainians in occupied areas who refuse Russian citizenship would be treated as of April 1.er July 2024 as foreigners and would have to obtain a residence permit, under penalty of being deported.
Between February and July, the services of the High Commission observed that the practices of arbitrary detention and “put into secrecy” civilian deaths continued in areas controlled by Moscow, with thirty-five men and eight women arbitrarily detained by Russian armed forces. “A year and a half after the Russian Federation’s large-scale armed attack on Ukraine, we continue to witness continued and flagrant human rights violations”said Mme Nada Al-Nashif, citing widespread torture, arbitrary detentions and sexual violence.
The UN is also concerned that no system has yet been established to allow the return of Ukrainian children transferred to Russia or areas under Moscow control. In September, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told the UN that this transfer by Russia of ” tens of thousands “ of children was “clearly a genocide”. Russia reiterated before the Council that it did not feel concerned by a debate on human rights in Ukraine, believing that the High Commissioner was outside the scope of its remit. “Such an approach is unacceptable”declared the Russian representative.