United Nations Human Rigths briefing by Ravina Shamdasani on Ukrainian and Russian calls for execution of POWs
/
2:09
/
MP4
/
237.7 MB

Edited News | OHCHR

Bi-Weekly Press Briefing: Ukrainian and Russian calls for execution of POWs - OHCHR

“We urgently call on both the Russian and Ukrainian authorities to investigate and to swiftly and publicly condemn audio recordings that have emerged over the weekend in which people with apparent connections to both sides of the conflict in Ukraine appear to order the summary execution of prisoners of war or declare that there shall be no survivors on the battlefield,” she said.

Audio material emerged on 23 April on several Telegram channels urging combatants not to take prisoners of war or to summarily execute those they captured.

One recording is alleged to be of a member of the Ukrainian armed forces ordering the killing of a prisoner of war from the so-called ‘Wagner Group’ that provides military and security contractors to fight for the Russian Federation. A subsequent audio statement was issued, apparently from the head of the Wagner Group, indicating that they would no longer take prisoners of war on the battlefield,” she said.

“While we have not yet been able to verify the authenticity of these recordings, such statements could provoke or encourage summary executions of prisoners of war or those hors de combat,” she said.

“If verified, the order to summarily execute persons hors de combat, including prisoners of war, followed by their killing or an attempt to do so amounts to a war crime, as does the declaration that no quarter will be given,” Shamdasani added.

She called on Russian and Ukrainian authorities to comply with their obligations under international law to investigate the statements in these recordings and to identify and prosecute those responsible.

“We call on Russian and Ukrainian authorities to comply with their obligations under international law to investigate these statements that were made in these recordings and to identify and prosecute those who are responsible,” the spokesperson said.

“We also call on military commanders and other superiors to issue clear and unambiguous orders to protect and treat humanely POWs and persons hors de combat, and to ensure that these orders are strictly complied with,” Shamdasani said.

END

For more information and media requests, please contact:

In Geneva

Ravina Shamdasani - + 41 22 917 9169 / ravina.shamdasani@un.org or

Liz Throssell + 41 22 917 9296 / elizabeth.throssell@un.org or

Jeremy Laurence + +41 22 917 9383 / jeremy.laurence@un.org or

Marta Hurtado - + 41 22 917 9466 / marta.hurtadogomez@un.org

In Nairobi

Seif Magango - +254 788 343 897 / seif.magango@un.org

Tag and share

Twitter @UNHumanRights

Facebook unitednationshumanrights

Instagram @unitednationshumanrights

  1. Exterior shot: travelling shot Palais des Nations
  2. Wide shot: Briefing room
  3. SOUNDBITE (English) – Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson United Nations Human Rights (OHCHR): “We urgently call on both the Russian and Ukrainian authorities to investigate and to swiftly and publicly condemn audio recordings that have emerged over the weekend in which people with apparent connections to both sides of the conflict in Ukraine appear to order the summary execution of prisoners of war or declare that there shall be no survivors on the battlefield.”
  4. Cut away: Briefing room
  5. SOUNDBITE (English) – Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson United Nations Human Rights (OHCHR): One recording is alleged to be of a member of the Ukrainian armed forces ordering the killing of a prisoner of war from the so-called ‘Wagner Group’ that provides military and security contractors to fight for the Russian Federation. A subsequent audio statement was issued, apparently from the head of the Wagner Group, indicating that they would no longer take prisoners of war on the battlefield.”
  6. Cut away: Briefing room
  7. SOUNDBITE (English) – Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson United Nations Human Rights (OHCHR): “While we have not yet been able to verify the authenticity of these recordings, such statements could provoke or encourage summary executions of prisoners of war or those ‘hors de combat’.”
  8. Cut away: Briefing room
  9. SOUNDBITE (English) – Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson United Nations Human Rights (OHCHR): “If verified, the order to summarily execute persons ‘hors de combat’, including prisoners of war, followed by their killing or an attempt to do so amounts to a war crime, as does the declaration that no quarter will be given.
  10. SOUNDBITE (English) – Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson United Nations Human Rights (OHCHR):We call on Russian and Ukrainian authorities to comply with their obligations under international law to investigate these statements that were made in these recordings and to identify and prosecute those who are responsible.”
  11. Cut away: Briefing room
  12. SOUNDBITE (English) – Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson United Nations Human Rights (OHCHR): “We also call on military commanders and other superiors to issue clear and unambiguous orders to protect and treat humanely POWs and persons hors de combat, and to ensure that these orders are strictly complied with.”

Similar Stories

Gaza health update - WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO

Gaza health update - WHO ENG FRA

‘Exceptional achievement’: Humanitarians reach over 105,000 with polio vaccine in north Gaza

Despite ongoing attacks and access challenges, humanitarians have managed to inoculate over 105,000 children in north Gaza with the second and final dose of the oral polio vaccine, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.  

Gaza humanitarian update - UNRWA

1

1

1

Edited News | UNRWA

Gaza humanitarian update - UNRWA ENG FRA

UN aid teams prepared to enter northern Gaza at the weekend to resume a mass polio vaccination campaign, the UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA, said on Friday.

Lebanon update OCHA - WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , WHO

Lebanon update OCHA - WHO ENG FRA

Lebanon: widescale displacement continues amid ongoing bombing

In south and east Lebanon civilians continue to face airstrikes, mass forced displacement and deprivation as the fight between Israel and Hezbollah militia goes on against the backdrop of war in Gaza.

In recent days, an estimated 50,000 people have left Baalbek heading mostly to areas in the north of the Bekaa Valley, said Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN aid coordination office (OCHA). 

Escalating violence in Sudan’s Al-Jazirah State - OHCHR

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

Escalating violence in Sudan’s Al-Jazirah State - OHCHR ENG FRA

Escalating violence in Sudan’s Al-Jazirah State adds to the dire displacement crisis in the country

UNCTAD Press conference 29 October 2024

2

1

2

Press Conferences , Edited News | UNCTAD

UNCTAD Press conference 29 October 2024 ENG FRA

Publication of the Trade and Development Report 2024: Rethinking Development in the Age of Discontent 

Knesset UNRWA vote – UN reaction IOM – OCHA – UNICEF – WHO – OHCHR

1

1

1

Edited News | IOM , OCHA , UNICEF , WHO , OHCHR

Knesset UNRWA vote – UN reaction IOM – OCHA – UNICEF – WHO – OHCHR ENG FRA

‘If UNRWA can’t operate, humanitarian system in Gaza will collapse’ – UN

The UN humanitarian and human rights community reacted forcefully on Tuesday to the vote by the Israeli Knesset banning the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), warning of the devastating impact on millions of Palestinians who depend on it.

WMO Press conference 28 October 2024

2

1

2

Press Conferences , Edited News | WMO

WMO Press conference 28 October 2024 ENG FRA

New data released by the UN on Monday indicating that greenhouse gases have hit a record high shows once again that urgent action and not words is needed from the world’s major polluters to protect us all from climate change, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) insisted.

Middle East update WHO – UNICEF – UNHCR  25 October 2024

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO , UNICEF , UNHCR

Middle East update WHO – UNICEF – UNHCR 25 October 2024 ENG FRA

Gaza’s sick and injured face new attacks on health care, lethal evacuation delays – UN humanitarians

Amid reports of a new Israeli military raid on a Gaza hospital on Friday morning - and ongoing hostilities hindering polio vaccination in the north of the Strip - UN humanitarians pleaded again for the protection of health facilities and urgent medical evacuation of critically ill patients.

Ukraine's demographic crisis UNFPA - 22 October 2024

1

1

1

Edited News | UNFPA

Ukraine's demographic crisis UNFPA - 22 October 2024 ENG FRA

Ukraine's birthrate plummets amid war, prompting a new demographic strategy.

Middle East update UNIFIL - OCHA - UNICEF - 18 October 2024

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , UNICEF , UNIFIL

Middle East update UNIFIL - OCHA - UNICEF - 18 October 2024 ENG FRA

UN peacekeepers determined to stay in south Lebanon, while humanitarians report more civilian suffering in Gaza and West Bank

UN peacekeepers are keeping their positions in South Lebanon despite heavy shelling and targeted attacks; their commitment to bringing back stability to the region is unwavering, the UN said on Friday.

Tunisia human rights situation

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

Tunisia human rights situation ENG FRA

Volker Türk calls on Tunisia to uphold rule of law and democratic freedoms, following pre-electoral context marred by human rights concerns

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk today called on the Tunisian authorities to protect the country’s democratic processes and uphold fundamental freedoms after a presidential campaign marred by a crackdown on the opposition, independent activists and journalists.

 

Middle East crisis update  UNHCR - OHCHR - UNICEF 15 October 2024

1

1

1

Edited News | UNHCR , UNICEF , OHCHR

Middle East crisis update UNHCR - OHCHR - UNICEF 15 October 2024 ENG FRA

With no let-up to the ongoing Israel-Lebanon conflict, the UN human rights office on Tuesday called for an independent probe into an Israeli airstrike that hit an apartment block in northern Lebanon a day earlier that left a reported 22 dead.