European Union and Ukraine call for the immediate release of all detained Ukrainian civilians
Brussels, July 13 (KUNA) -- The European Union and Ukraine called on Monday for Russia to immediately and unconditionally release all detained civilians and return them to Ukraine, while also condemning “the violations committed by Moscow against Ukrainian civilians.” This was stated in a joint statement issued by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha following their meeting on civilian detainees and the humanitarian consequences of the war with Russia, held on the sidelines of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels.
The statement noted that “Russia has continued since the start of its war and its illegal attempt to annex the Crimean Peninsula in 2014 to suppress opposition and persecute individuals it considers a threat to the occupation authorities.” It added that reports from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights have documented arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, widespread torture and ill-treatment, including sexual violence, as well as illegal deportations to Russia and forced transfers to other parts of temporarily occupied Ukrainian territory, alongside the denial of detainees’ rights to fair trial, due process guarantees, and contact with their families.
The statement clarified that civilians, including local officials, journalists, activists, volunteers, and others, remain subject to politically motivated persecution, torture, and inhumane detention conditions, accusing Russia of blocking access by independent monitors and media to temporarily occupied areas “in order to obstruct independent reporting and cover up systematic violations of human rights and humanitarian law.”
It called on Russia and Belarus to ensure the immediate, safe, and unconditional return to Ukraine of all Ukrainian civilians arbitrarily detained, illegally deported, or forcibly transferred, including children. The statement also strongly condemned Russia’s refusal to confirm the identity, location, and fate of detained or missing Ukrainians, describing this as a violation of its obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law.
It emphasized the need to enable the International Committee of the Red Cross to carry out its mandate and ensure its access to all places where Ukrainian civilians are detained, and to contribute to determining the fate and location of missing persons in accordance with the Geneva Conventions.
According to the statement, the two sides renewed their call for respect for international humanitarian law and human rights law for all detainees, including an end to summary executions and torture practices, stressing the necessity of continuing investigation efforts within the Council of Europe framework to activate the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine and the International Claims Commission for Ukraine. (End) A.R.N. / F.L.A.
