The NGO Human Rights Watch calls on Ukraine to stop staging Russian prisoners of war because it violates the Geneva conventions, according to a press release. “Ukrainian authorities should stop posting videos of imprisoned Russian soldiers on social media and messaging to expose them in public, especially those who are humiliated or threatened“, According to a press release.
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“Such treatment inflicted on prisoners of war violates the protections provided by the Geneva Conventionson international humanitarian law, adds the NGO. Ukraine broadcast videos of Russian prisoners and paraded them in front of the press, forced to deliver a repentance, an instrumentalization which was also denounced by the ICRC, the International Committee of the Red Cross, which recalled that captured enemies were to be dealt with “dignity“. “The obligation to protect prisoners of war from the curiosity of the public, as well as to preserve them from intimidation or humiliation is part of the things required to ensure them humane treatment and protect their families.“says Aisling Reidy, legal adviser to the NGO, in the press release. Attacked by Russia since February 24, Ukraine has implemented a massive and effective communication strategy, particularly on social networks, aimed at its population, Russians and the international community.
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HRW said it wrote to Ukrainian authorities about the matter on March 10 and is still awaiting a response. The organization adds that it has also documented numerous violations of the rules of war and possible war crimes attributable to the Russians. “Violations by Russian forces are numerous and widespread, causing harm to civilianssaid Aisling Reidy. “At the same time, Ukraine clearly has obligations to respect, including the legal treatment of prisoners of war“.
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