United Nations, Aug 24 : The trials of Ukrainian prisoners of war (POW) by Russian-backed authorities in the occupied Mariupol could begin within a few days according to the UN Human Rights Office said as it warned that these proceedings could constitute violations of international law as war crimes.Videos and images circulated in the media and social networks “appear to show metal cages being constructed in Mariupol’s philharmonic room, evidently to confine prisoners of war during court proceedings” DPA news agency quoted Ravina Shamdasani spokesperson of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, as saying in an announcement on Tuesday.
The numbers of prisoners to be examined, the charges as well as the makeup of the tribunal were not clear, she said.
The UN has demanded that prisoners be granted access to visitors from outside.
Shamdasani said that the UN Human Rights Office fears death sentences will be handed out by the occupation authorities who are mistakenly declaring an “international tribunal” and that credible reports have been uncovered which suggest that some of the Ukrainians being held are brutally beaten.
“We remember that international human rights law prohibits the creation of courts solely for the purpose of judging prisoners of war, and that priving prisoners of war of the right of an impartial and regular trial is war crimes,” she said.
According to the leader of the separatist group that is backed by Moscow in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, Denis Pushilin, “investigations” have been concluded in 80 cases, and 23 people have been detained.
The International Committee of the Red Cross stated that it has been capable of seeing a few POWs in the months since the Russian attack began in February however, not all.
In many instances access to the facility has been denied or there were no security measures for staff, the report stated.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that talks between Ukraine and Russia will be stopped in the event of trials in Mariupol occur.
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