Investigators are trying to solve alleged war crimes in Kharkiv.
(Photo: dpa)
Geneva Kidnappings, executions, carpet bombing: The full extent of possible Russian war crimes against civilians in Ukraine is becoming ever clearer. A UN commission of inquiry chaired by Norwegian judge Erik Møse reported in Kyiv on Wednesday that it is investigating in several locations in Ukraine – the testimonies and other documents about the atrocities could be used in war crimes trials against Russian soldiers.
However, there is a risk of confusion in the further legal processing of the acts of violence. Because in addition to the Møse Commission, other international and national commissions as well as the Ukrainian law enforcement authorities search and collect clues and evidence of crimes. Will there be rivalries among investigators?
“There is a risk of overlapping,” Møse had to admit. Ultimately, the Russian perpetrators could benefit from the different investigation results of the commissions that have been appointed. Russia’s government and army categorically deny responsibility for crimes anyway. The first Russian soldier was sentenced to life imprisonment in May for shooting dead a civilian.
The “Independent International UN Commission of Inquiry into Ukraine” under Møse works on behalf of the UN Human Rights Council, it is to set off on further fact-finding missions in Ukraine.
The investigators want to present a final report next year. In addition, a UN observer mission has been collecting evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine since 2014. In addition, investigators from the International Criminal Court have already gone to the Eastern European country and countries such as the USA have started their own investigations.
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The statements of the UN investigator Møse and his colleagues confirm the certainty that the troops of Russian President Vladimir Putin are waging an unimaginably cruel war against the civilian population. “In Bucha and Irpin, the commission received information about the arbitrary killing of civilians, the destruction and looting of property, and attacks on civilian infrastructure, including schools,” said commission chairman Erik Møse. “In the Kharkiv and Sumy regions, the commission documented the destruction of large urban areas.” Presumably, the Russians reduced the areas to rubble with airstrikes, rockets and artillery.
A Russian soldier (M) talks to his translator at a court hearing in Kyiv.
(Photo: dpa)
In addition, the commissioners heard “painful accounts” of the imprisonment, mistreatment and enforced disappearance of civilians, rape and other forms of sexual abuse. The investigator Jasminka Džumhur expressed particular concern about the fate of many children: the war is tearing families apart, girls and boys are apparently being deported to Russia.
Initial investigations have not yet determined how many children have become victims of these kidnappings. Putin invaded Ukraine on February 24, injuring and killing tens of thousands of people. Millions of children, women and men are fleeing.
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