DISINFO: Accusing Russia of deporting Ukrainian children is groundless
SUMMARY
Moscow does not accept the blasphemous and unsubstantiated accusations of deporting Ukrainian children. Russia is attentive to the fate of every child who has suffered from the crimes of Ukrainian Nazis. It makes every effort to protect children from atrocities committed by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative denying war crimes committed by the Russian armed forces and the illegal Russian federal administration in Ukraine. This claim was made in the context of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The abduction and forced transportation of unaccompanied Ukrainian children to Russia was documented as early as several months into Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified aggression (Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International). Ukraine also reported the actions of Russia’s children’s ombudsman Maria Lvova-Belova to the International Criminal Court (ICC). On 02 March 2022, ICC Prosecutor, Karim Khan decided to seek authorisation to open an investigation into the situation in Ukraine. The ICC issued arrest warrants for Putin and Russia's and Lvova-Belova in March 2023.
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted a resolution in April 2023 which stated that the transfers of Ukrainian children constitutes the crime of genocide because they were ‘clearly being planned and organised in a systematic way’. The Assembly also said that ‘there was evidence that deported children had faced a process of “russification” through re-education in Russian language, culture and history'.
In August 2023, the US Department of State imposed sanctions on individuals and entities connected to the forcible transfer and deportation of Ukraine’s children. Also in August 2023, UN member states condemned the illegal transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia. In September 2023, the European Parliament recognised Lukashenko as an accomplice in crimes committed by the Russian Federation in Ukraine, in particular the forced transfer of children to Russia.
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