The UN accuses Russia of serious human rights violations in Ukraine

2023-04-30 21:34:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

A high-level Russian delegation of 36 legal experts has failed to convince a UN monitoring commission that the Russian government has complied with the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

Russia was one of six member states to the convention, subject to monitoring by the 18-member Commission on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

The commission, which monitors the implementation of the convention by member states, expressed deep concern about "serious violations of human rights committed during the armed conflict (in Ukraine) by the military forces of the Russian Federation and private military groups against those who are protected by the convention, especially Ukrainian citizens".

Commission member Mehrdad Payandeh said that since the launch of the Russian attack on Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the commission has received reports of serious human rights violations and abuses, including "instances and practices of excessive use of force, murders, torture, rape and various forms of sexual violence", allegedly committed by the Russian state.

The Commission has also received information about the forcible taking and relocation to Russia of residents and children from the Ukrainian territories annexed by Moscow or controlled by it.

"We have addressed these concerns," Mr Payandeh said. "Again, the Russian Federation did not comment on these concerns or provide more information about them."

In mid-April, the Ukrainian government reported that more than 19,384 children have been forcibly taken and relocated to Russia, and the fate of thousands more remains unclear.

The UN and human rights organizations say many children are suspected of being given up for adoption to Russian families.

On March 17, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belovan, Commissioner of the Russian President's Office for Children's Rights, for their involvement in the deportation of children from occupied territories in Ukraine.

Members of the commission called on the Russian Federation to conduct impartial investigations into all reported cases of human rights abuse mentioned in its report.

They are also calling for an end to the practice of forced military mobilization of members of the Crimean Tatar community.

Russia has not yet commented on the report.