Russia is treating military prisoners as individuals deprived of their human rights. This was stated by Gleb Bogush, an international law expert, professor, on the “DW News Show” program.
According to the expert, in Russia, Ukrainian prisoners of war are often used as a means of propaganda – which contradicts international humanitarian law, specifically the Geneva Conventions of 1949, demanding the protection of prisoners from “public curiosity”.
Also, Bogush criticized the Ukrainian side too:
“At the beginning of the war, there were instances of interviews being given with Russian prisoners of war, or their exposure to public attention. This too is a violation of the conventions. However, Ukraine made positive changes in this regard, unlike Russia where no such progress is observed”, – he said.
According to the expert, it is imperative for the international community to constantly remind of the content of the Geneva Conventions:
“Specifically, the issuance of new international mandates is necessary. It reminds that punishment is inescapable. There are specific individuals behind these crimes – they have ordered the tortures, they have coordinated them”.
