GENEVA / COMMISSION OF INQUIRY UKRAINE

16-Mar-2023 00:03:42
Russian troops committed a “wide range” of violations across Ukraine, many of which amount to war crimes, UN Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine reports. UNTV CH
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STORY: GENEVA / COMMISSION OF INQUIRY UKRAINE
TRT: 3:42
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 16 MARCH 2023, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
SHOTLIST
1.Wide shot: UN flag alley UN Geneva.
2.Med shot, speakers behind podium and journalists at press conference room, UN Geneva
3.SOUNDBITE (English) Erik Møse, Chair of the Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine:
“The commission has concluded that Russian authorities have committed numerous violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, in addition to a wide range of war crimes, including the war crime of excessive incidental death, injury or damage, willful killings, torture, inhuman treatment, unlawful confinement, rape, as well as unlawful transfer and deportation.”
4.Med shot, journalists and photographers in the press conference, UN Geneva
5.SOUNDBITE (English) Erik Møse, Chair of the Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine:
“The commission has also found that the waves of attacks from the 10 October 2022 on Ukraine's energy related infrastructure by the Russian armed forces and the use of torture by Russian authorities may amount to crimes against humanity. The commission recommends further investigations.”
6.Med shot, speakers behind podium at press conference room, UN Geneva
7.SOUNDBITE (English) Jasminka Džumhur, Commissioner of Inquiry on Ukraine:
“The Commission has, in limited number of cases, found that Ukrainian armed forces (are) very likely responsible for violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law. These include indiscriminate attacks using cluster ammunitions, as well as two incidents of shooting, wounding, and torture of Russian prisoners of war, which are war crimes. Accountability for these cases is also a necessity.”
8. Med shot, journalists with speaker at the podium
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Erik Møse, Chair of the Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine:
“The commission has concluded that Russian armed forces have committed indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks, which are violations of international humanitarian law. Such attacks have impacted objects which are purely civilian in nature, such as residential buildings, hospitals, shops, and places with large concentrations of civilians.”
10. Med shot, journalists in the press room
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Pablo de Greiff, Commissioner of Inquiry on Ukraine:
“The commission has collected evidence showing a widespread pattern of summary executions and has concluded that Russian authorities have committed unlawful killings of civilians or persons in areas which came under their control.”
12. Med shot, journalists in the press room
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Pablo de Greiff, Commissioner of Inquiry on Ukraine:
“The Commission has further concluded that Russian authorities have committed unlawful transfers and deportations of civilians or of other protected persons, both men and women within Ukraine, or to the Russian Federation respectively. This is a war crime.”
14. Med shot, speakers on podium
15. SOUNDBITE (English) Jasminka Džumhur, Commissioner of Inquiry on Ukraine:
“The Commission has concluded that in the area they controlled, some members of Russian forces committed the war crimes of rape, which also amounts to torture, sexual violence, and the corresponding human rights violations. Acts of forced nudity can be a form of sexual violence and may constitute the war crime of outrages up and personal dignity.”
16. Various shots, journalists and speakers in the press conference room
STORYLINE
Russian troops committed a “wide range” of violations across Ukraine, many of which amount to war crimes, UN Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine reports.

Russian forces in Ukraine faced fresh accusations of war crimes on Thursday as UN-appointed independent human rights investigators released the latest findings of their ongoing probe.

“Russian authorities have committed numerous violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law, in addition to a wide range of war crimes, including the war crime of excessive incidental death, injury or damage, wilful killings, torture, unlawful confinement, rape, as well as deportation,” said Mr. Erik Møse, Chair of the Commission of Inquiry to the press in Geneva.

In addition, Russian repeated attacks against Ukraine’s energy grid since 10 October 2022 left hundreds of thousands without power in freezing temperatures. With “the use of torture by Russian authorities, these attacks may amount to crimes against humanity”, added Mr. Møse, as the commission recommends further investigations.

The report is based on almost 600 interviews, as well as satellite pictures and inspections of detention places and graves.

The commissioners also found a “limited number” of apparent violations by Ukrainian forces. “These include indiscriminate attacks using cluster ammunitions, as well as two incidents of shooting, wounding, and torture of Russian prisoners of war, which are war crimes. Accountability for these cases is also a necessity,” insisted Ms. Jasminka Džumhur, one of the Commissioners of Inquiry.

But the investigators reserved much of their report for allegations against Russia. They concluded its armed forces have committed "indiscriminate and disproportionate" attacks on Ukraine, used torture, killed civilians outside of combat and failed to take measures to spare the Ukrainian population. For Mr. Erik Møse, “such attacks have impacted objects which are purely civilian in nature, such as residential buildings, hospitals, shops and places with large concentrations of civilians.”

Deportation and systematic torture

A key finding of the report relates to “widespread” unlawful confinement in areas controlled by Russian armed forces, going hand in hand with “consistent” methods of torture.

Commissioner Mr. Pablo de Greiff said, “Russian authorities have committed unlawful transfers and deportations of civilians or of other protected persons, both men and women within Ukraine, or to the Russian Federation respectively. This is a war crime,” Mr. de Greiff reminded.

The commission also collected evidence showing a widespread pattern of summary executions and concluded that Russian authorities have committed unlawful killings of civilians or persons, in areas which came under their control.

Sexual violence

The report highlights “numerous” instances of rape and sexual violence committed by Russian authorities, notably during house searches, and in detention. According to the commission, victims are men, women, and children, from four to 82 years old.

“The Commission has concluded that in the area they controlled, some members of Russian forces committed the war crimes of rape, which also amounts to torture, sexual violence, and the corresponding human rights violations. Acts of forced nudity can be a form of sexual violence and may constitute the war crime of outrages up and personal dignity,” emphasized Ms. Jasminka Džumhur.

A commission of inquiry is the most powerful tool used by the U.N.-backed Human Rights Council to scrutinize abuses and violations around the world.

The commission’s three members are independent human rights experts. The commission of inquiry on Ukraine was set up during an urgent debate shortly after Russia’s invasion on 24 February last year.

The report recommends all perpetrators of violations and crimes are held accountable through judicial proceedings in accordance with international human rights standards, “either at the national or the international level.”
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