Today at 12:11
Russian occupiers are persecuting Ukrainians in the captured territories. More than 40 criminal cases under so-called terrorist articles against Ukrainian citizens have been filed since the beginning of the year in the Southern District Military Court of Rostov-on-Don, FREEDOM reports.
The defense of such defendants is extremely difficult. Many lawyers are afraid of such cases because of the prospect of receiving the status of a “foreign agent,” the media reports. Among the accused are both civilians of the occupied regions and captured military personnel, in particular from the Aidar battalion and the Azov brigade.
“A full investigation is not required here: the very fact of serving in these units is a crime under Russian law. In the occupied territories, people have not yet adapted to Russian realities and do not understand how training several years ago in a Ukrainian military educational institution, an innocuous comment or service in units, for example, as a cook or dog handler, can become the basis for assigning huge terms,” said Mikhail Savva, head of the board of the Sova Expert Group.
The human rights organization Gulagu.net has collected evidence of cruel treatment of Ukrainians in Russian captivity. Including photos of emaciated prisoners, which were anonymously given to human rights activists by an employee of the Federal Penitentiary Service. The photos are shocking. The Ukrainians themselves, who have lost 20-30 kg of weight, testify to the cruel methods used. Military personnel and civilians talk about torture by starvation, the lack of medical care, and regular beatings.
