Responsibility for acts committed under duress or out of fear for one’s life cannot be equated with responsibility for the actions or inactions of those who knowingly support the enemy.
Citizens who forcibly received a Russian passport in the temporarily occupied territories are not responsible for it. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine on Monday, September 30.
The department emphasized that the Russian Federation continues to carry out targeted and planned attacks on civilians and their property throughout Ukraine, which brazenly violates all norms of international law.
“The absence of legitimate authorities and justice, the systematic imposition of enemy narratives and widespread violations of human rights have become a new reality imposed by the Russian Federation on millions of Ukrainians under temporary occupation, replacing civilized living conditions of torture,” the message. added.
It was also noted that situations in which a person is deprived of the opportunity to choose is a practice often used by the Russian occupation authorities to influence a person’s behavior so that the latter acts not of his own free will , but under the pressure of circumstances due to fear of retaliation or the establishment of illegal restrictions. An example is the forced passport in the WOT of Ukraine, which is one of the many proofs of violation of citizens’ rights.
The Ministry of Justice said that people who commit a socially dangerous act to avoid cruel treatment are not responsible. Yes, Art. 40 of the Criminal Code, if there is evidence of the use of mental coercion, gives them full legal protection in court.
Among the measures taken by the aggressor in the territories under his control is the forced Russification of citizens with a Ukrainian passport. The Russian Federation inflicts maximum suffering on the civilian population, as having a Ukrainian passport is considered an act of protest. So, under very difficult living conditions under work, local residents are forced to take Russian citizenship.
At the same time, the department informed that such documents have no legal force and are not recognized anywhere except in the occupied territories.
The message also emphasized that responsibility for actions taken under duress or out of fear for one’s life cannot be equated with responsibility for the actions or inactions of those who knowingly support the enemy.
It was previously reported that the Russian occupiers want to “verify” the entire local population over the age of 14 in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine by the end of 2024.
We remind you that the Russian occupiers, under the guise of teaching patriotism, continue a large-scale campaign to recruit young people in the occupied territories of Ukraine.
It was also noted that in the temporarily occupied territories, the Russians plan to assign the status of foreign citizens or stateless persons to citizens who do not have a Russian passport from January 1, 2025.
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Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.