The International Committee of the Red Cross commented on the situation with the torture and execution of Ukrainian prisoners of war by Russian war criminals. They claim that they cannot influence the actions of Moscow.
As a neutral intermediary, we facilitated the safe exit of combatants from the territory of the Azovstal plant and ensured this by interacting with the parties to the conflict. Further, the Russian side bears responsibility for them, again, in accordance with the Geneva Conventions, – said Alexander Vlasenko, representative of the ICRC, in a commentary to the Public.
According to him, the Red Cross is a neutral organization, limited by the Geneva Conventions and acting only in accordance with international humanitarian law, therefore it cannot guarantee the safety of prisoners of war, since this is beyond the organization’s capabilities and mandate.
We cannot be in that place 24/7 and be with them,” Vlasenko said.
The ICRC representative added that the Red Cross itself registered the details of the captured Ukrainians when they left Azovstal, and now this information is available to relatives. This, according to Vlasenko, was the role of a neutral mediator.
He also confirmed negotiations with Russian terrorists on the admission of representatives of the Red Cross to the territory of Alenovka, where war criminals staged a terrorist attack.
We want to get to everyone: to the wounded, we want to see the bodies of the dead and we want to see the survivors. Perhaps they are in different places (medical institutions – ed.). If they are all in Olenevka, then we want to get to Olenevka,” Vlasenko summed up.
As a reminder, Russia has not yet granted access to the colony in Olenivka to representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Source: Racurs
