More than 1,700 fighters at the Azovstal steel plant have surrendered to Russian forces, and their whereabouts are uncertain. According to Martti Koskenniemi, Russia seems to have renounced international agreements.
20.5. 18:15 • Updated May 20th. 20:10
The fate of the fighters at the siege of Mariupol’s Azovstal factory has remained open. The Ukrainian armed forces confirmed this week that the last defenders of the steel plant had been ordered to surrender to Russian-led forces. On Thursday, the Kremlin said a total of 1,730 Ukrainian soldiers have surrendered from the Azovstal plant.
The Russians have exported hundreds of fighters to the prison camp (you move to another service) To the territories ruled by Russia. According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, 264 soldiers, including 53 wounded, are now being held in prison camps in Novoazovsk and Olenivka, in the territory of the Russian-controlled Donetsk People’s Republic.
The leader of the Russian-backed separatists, meanwhile, says some of the fighters are still imprisoned in the factory’s underground bunkers.
Professor Emeritus of International Law Martti Koskenniemi however, does not believe that Ukrainian prisoners of war will receive treatment under the Geneva Convention.
– Russia has now not indicated in any particular way how many prisoners of war it has taken and where they have been placed. The number and place should be known in accordance with the Geneva Convention, Koskenniemi states.
– I do not think that these prisoners of war have rights under the agreement. And there is no information on whether the Red Cross has been allowed to inspect the prison camp.
The status of a prisoner of war is protected by international agreements
The Geneva Convention defines a prisoner of war as a member of the armed forces or police forces “who has come under the control of the enemy.” There are a total of 140 articles in the agreement that should be respected.
The status of a prisoner of war is internationally protected. They need to be registered, they need to be able to keep in touch with their relatives and the prisoner needs to be given health care. In addition, the prisoner shall be allowed to practice his or her own religion and shall not be subjected to any form of torture or ill-treatment.
– When you read the agreement, it is clear what the treatment of prisoners of war should be. All unnecessary subjugation must be avoided and their rights must be taken care of, Koskenniemi concludes.
– Now there is a feeling that the Russians are not working this way.
The Red Cross can act hidden from the public
The Red Cross yesterday statement (go to another service) Of Azovstal’s surrendered fighters, it was the first time since the Russian invasion that it officially reported anything about the prisoners of war. It is still unknown whether the Red Cross has been allowed to visit prison camps and how many prisoners of war are on both sides.
– Now there is less public information, and no communication has been reported between prisoners and relatives, Koskenniemi says.
According to Koskenniemi, there are an exceptional number of problems in this war, because in general, Red Cross workers have been allowed to look at the conditions of the prisoners in accordance with the Geneva Convention. The visits have also been reported to the public.
– It now seems that if the Geneva Convention goes hand in hand, it will certainly become clear that there are many problems with treatment.
According to Koskenniemi, the Red Cross can also be hidden from the public, but usually the on-site visit is told in public.
Ukrainian authorities, meanwhile, say they cannot publicly comment on the fate of the fighters because behind-the-scenes talks are being held to rescue them.
The videos testify to war crimes
The war in Ukraine is the “first somes war” and has brought the treatment of prisoners of war to the public. On the one hand, videos are valuable evidence, and on the other hand, degrading videos or images of prisoners of war must not be published.
According to Koskenniemi, however, the videos are of great value as evidence of war crimes in this war.
– If the videos are verified, they will provide information about the war crime. But we also have a few lawsuits where the media has been accused of inciting war crimes and human rights abuses. This was the case in World War II and in the Rwandan war crimes tribunal, says Koskenniemi.
And why classify the way the Russian media treats Ukrainians when it uses inhuman metaphors about them.
– Is it incitement against humanity – it can be discussed, Koskenniemi states.