Russia has proceeded with investigations of 13,000 cases of war crimes against 92 Ukrainians, said Alexander Bastrykin to Rossikaya Gazeta.
Bastrykin also proposed an international tribunal supported by Russian backers like Iran and Russia strike an energy deal as the isolation from Europe intensifies. Iran, Bolivia and Syria.
With 92 people already charged, there are 96, including 51 armed forces commanders, still wanted for trial, Bastrykin said. These Ukrainians were involved in “ Crimes Against Peace and Security of humanity”, he said to the pro-government paper.
His interviewers asked him whether an UN-backed trial could take place. Bastrykin ruled out such a possibility. The west is openly sponsoring “Ukrainian nationalism“, he said. Bastrykin instead proposed an international tribunal with countries that have an “independent stance” on the war. These include Syria, Bolivia and Iran particularly.
While both Syria and Iran voted against a UN resolution condemning Russia’s Ukraine invasion, Bolivia abstained. So far Bastrykin’s statements haven’t been verified and Kyiv hasn’t commented.
Health Ministry Employees and Western “Mercenaries” Under Radar
So far, with hundreds of Ukrainian military and political targets, Russia is also investigating Ukraine’s health Ministry employees. Alexander Bastrykin accused them of “developing weapons of mass destruction.” Also, suspected mercenaries from the west are under investigation, he claimed.
In June, Russia sentenced two British nationals and a Moroccan in Ukraine to death. Russia Aiden Aslin, Shaun Pinner and Brahim Saaudun of being mercenaries. On the other hand, their families have claimed them to be long-standing members of the Ukrainian military.
What are War Crimes?
The Geneva Conventions and a string of other international laws govern combatant conduct during a war. Geneva Conventions are four treaties ratified and updated in 1949. According to these laws, civilians cannot be attacked and their infrastructure destroyed.
Chemical weapons and anti-personnel landmines too are banned because they cause widespread injury. Combatant nations must tend to the sick and wounded POWs. On the other hand, serious offenses like murder, rape or mass executions are known as “crimes against humanity” and in some cases” genocide”.
Ukrainian Government Has Started a War Tribunal
During this month, Ukraine said it was investigating more than 21,000 war crimes committed by Russian troops in Ukraine. In May Kyiv began it’s trial of a Russian tank commander who had killed a civilian.
The International Criminal Court has described Ukraine as a crime scene and had sent its own forensic expert there. Meanwhile, Moscow denies committing war crimes in Ukraine and instead pins the Blame on the Ukrainian bombardment of Russian infrastructure. And international leaders have all dismissed Russian claims. More than 40 nations have agreed to coordinate investigations into Russian war crimes in Ukraine.
Quite recently, Russia had slammed missiles into the town of Vinnytsia, killing 23 civilians. Ukraine’s Prosecutor General, Irina Venediktova, meanwhile would want Vladimir Putin to be held accountable for his role in invading Ukraine.
(Inputs, BBC)
