On October 2, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted a resolution “Missing persons, prisoners of war and civilians in detention as a result of the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine”. 74 PACE members voted in favor of the document, none voted against.
This was reported by Radio Svoboda.
The document also points to numerous violations of the rights of prisoners of war and civilians in Russian custody.
The Assembly calls for a new impetus to increase pressure on the Russian Federation to ensure the release of these prisoners and captives, – the text says.
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe also emphasizes the importance of strengthening international mechanisms to identify and highlight Russia’s violations of international humanitarian law.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine welcomed the adoption of the resolution, stating that it “emphasizes the deep concern of the international community” about the fate of prisoners of war and civilian prisoners.
Ukraine expresses its deep gratitude to PACE members for their unwavering support and solidarity. This resolution is an important step towards restoring justice, ensuring accountability and drawing attention to the humanitarian problems that have arisen as a result of the ongoing aggression, – the ministry said.
It is worth noting that on September 13, Russia and Ukraine exchanged detainees under the 49-for-49 formula. On September 14, another 103 soldiers returned to Ukraine, including the defenders of Mariupol.
