Russia likely committed ‘crimes against humanity’ by deporting Ukrainians, says Amnesty International

Russia probably committed crimes against humanity by forcibly transferring civilians Ukrainians in territories occupied by Russian troops to take them to other regions, he said Thursday International Amnesty (AI).

The NGO claimed that civilians were taken from occupied Ukrainian territories to other areas controlled by the Russians or to Russia and that children were separated from their families in violation of international humanitarian law.

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International Amnesty said civilians were subjected to “Abusive selection processes”, known as filters, which sometimes resulted in arbitrary arrests, torture and other ill-treatment.

“Separating children from their families and forcing people to go hundreds of kilometers from their homes are further proof of the harsh suffering that the Russian invasion has caused Ukrainian civilians,” said Agnes Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International.

“The deplorable tactic of forced removal and deportation is a war crime. Amnesty International believes that this needs to be investigated as a crime against humanity.”he claimed.

The organization said it interviewed 88 people, most of them civilians from Mariupol, the Ukrainian Black Sea port captured by Russia after a harsh siege, and also residents of the Kharkiv, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions.

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“Most, especially those from Mariupol, described coercive conditions that meant they had no choice but to go to Russia or other Russian-occupied territories.”pointed out the NGO.

AI noted that once in Russia, many people reported that they were pressured to apply for Russian citizenship or that their movements were restricted.

Source: AFP

Source: Elcomercio

Ronald Payne

I, Ronald Payne, am a journalist and author who dedicated his life to telling the stories that need to be said. I have over 7 years of experience as a reporter and editor, covering everything from politics to business to crime.