After the discovery of hundreds of bodies in the recaptured Ukrainian city of Izyum, the Czech EU presidency has called for the establishment of an international war crimes tribunal against Ukraine. “In the 21st century, such attacks on civilians are unthinkable and abhorrent,” Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky tweeted on Saturday. According to researchers, most of the dead are civilians and almost all have signs of torture (see video above).
“We must not overlook it. We are determined to punish all war criminals.” Lipavsky stressed: “I call for the swift establishment of a special international tribunal to investigate the crimes.” According to investigators, some of the 450 or so graves near the eastern Ukrainian city of Izyum had found graves with their hands tied behind their backs. Many would have been tortured. According to the initial findings, they would have died at the end of March. At that time, Russia had shelled the city heavily.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had called for Moscow to be punished for war crimes in view of the horrific find in Izyum. The world should not stand by as the “terrorist state” kills and tortures Russia, Zelenskyy said in Kiev. Russia should be punished with even tougher sanctions. He reiterated the call for travel bans for Russians to the EU.
“Did the same as in Bucha”
Russia acted in exactly the same way as it did in the spring in Bucha, a suburb of the capital Kiev, where hundreds of civilian bodies – some tied up and tortured before – were found after Russian troops withdrew in late March. Since then, Bucha has been considered a symbol of the most serious war crimes in the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. Zelenskyj applauded that the United Nations now wants to send experts to document the actions of “Russian terrorists”.
The US government described the finds as “disgusting”. “It unfortunately befits the kind of depravity and brutality with which the Russian armed forces are waging this war against Ukraine and the Ukrainian people,” National Security Council communications director John Kirby said Friday. “It’s absolutely depraved and cruel.” It is becoming increasingly clear what Russian President Vladimir Putin and his soldiers are capable of, he said. The US administration will continue to support efforts to document Russian war crimes and atrocities so that those responsible can ultimately be held accountable.
“torture chambers” discovered
Zelenskyi also reported that after the Russian army withdrew from the Kharkov region, “torture chambers” were found in towns and villages. There, civilians, including foreigners, were imprisoned and mistreated.
“We will provide access to tell the world that racism (Russian fascism, ed.) must be condemned.” The world community must respond. The president recalled Kiev’s initiative for an international tribunal to try Russia for its crime of aggression against Ukraine. and urged companies to turn away from Russia. “If a state takes the path of terror, it is the duty of a self-respecting company to distance itself from such a state.”
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
