Commissioner for Human Rights Liudmyla Denisova: In Kherson, russian militants torture civilians taken hostage.
Residents of the temporarily occupied city, going to the store, run the risk of being captured by the occupiers every day. Staying at home also does not save Kherson residents from kidnapping, as the russian military enters the entrances, knocks on doors and takes people out in an unknown direction.
Through social networks, local residents monitor the movement of racist patrols and find out the location of enemy checkpoints on the roads. Yes, there is a chance to pave a safe path to your destination.
In case of a street check, the occupiers examine the body for tattoos, view the contents of the phone, car, things. Many do not go through this “procedure”. After that, people are taken away in an unknown direction.
From the first days of the occupation, messages with photos and calls for help in searching for missing parents, wives, children and friends began to appear on social networks.
Kherson residents who were taken prisoner and escaped into Ukrainian-controlled territory report allegations of abuse and violence during interrogations.
Torture, abduction and killing of civilians by russian militants are nothing but acts of terrorism under the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism and War Crimes under Article 8 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.