Bi-Weekly Press Briefing: Ukraine Foreign Fighters Death Sentence OHCHR
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Edited News | OHCHR

Bi-Weekly Press Briefing: Ukraine Foreign Fighters Death Sentence OHCHR

STORYLINE

Death sentence trial for Ukraine foreign fighters is a war crime: UN rights office

The UN human rights office, OHCHR, on Friday condemned the death sentence handed down to three foreign fighters in Ukraine by a court in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic. “Such trials against prisoners of war amount to a war crime,” said OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani.

The three men - Britons Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner, and Moroccan Saaudun Brahim – were captured while fighting for Ukraine, reportedly defending the southern port city of Mariupol.

Bitter fighting between Ukrainian and Russian forces since the Russian invasion on 24 February flattened the city, where UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet has previously condemned attacks against civilians and civilian objects that have likely caused thousands of deaths.

“We are concerned - the UN human rights Office - is concerned about the so-called Supreme Court of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic sentencing three servicemen to death,” said Ms. Shamdasani. “According to the chief command of Ukraine, all the men were part of the Ukrainian armed forces and if that is the case, they should not be considered as mercenaries.”

The UN rights office spokesperson also highlighted longstanding concerns about fair trial violations in Ukraine’s breakaway eastern regions bordering Russia. “Since 2015, we have observed that the so-called judiciary within these self-contained republics has not complied with essential fair trial guarantees, such as public hearings, independence, impartiality of the courts and the right not to be compelled to testify.”

Speaking in Geneva, Ms. Shamdasani added that “such trials against prisoners of war amount to a war crime. In the case of the use of the death penalty, fair trial guarantees are of course all the more important.”

ends

STORY: Ukraine Foreign Fighters Death Sentence - OHCHR

TRT: 1 min 45s

SOURCE: UNTV CH

RESTRICTIONS: NONE

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

ASPECT RATIO: 16:9

DATELINE: 10 June 2022 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

SHOTLIST

  1. Exterior medium shot, Palais des Nations flag alley, a sunny day.
  2. Wide shot, Press briefing room, Palais des Nations.
  3. SOUNDBITE (English) — Ravina Shamdasani, OHCHR: “We are concerned - the UN human rights Office - is concerned about the so-called Supreme Court of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic sentencing three servicemen to death. Now these were as you said citizens of foreign countries who were captured in Mariupol for being mercenaries. According to the chief command of Ukraine, all the men were part of the Ukrainian armed forces and if that is the case, they should not be considered as mercenaries.”
  4. Medium shot, podium speakers to rear, participant’s face blurred in foreground.
  5. SOUNDBITE (English) — Ravina Shamdasani, OHCHR: “Since 2015, we have observed that the so-called judiciary within these self-contained republics has not complied with essential fair trial guarantees, such as public hearings, independence, impartiality of the courts and the right not to be compelled to testify.”
  6. Medium shot, participant, standing with arms folded, framed between other participants in foreground, blurred.
  7. SOUNDBITE (English) — Ravina Shamdasani, OHCHR: “Such trials against prisoners of war amount to a war crime. In the case of the use of the death penalty, fair trial guarantees are of course all the more important.”
  8. Medium shot, participants and podium speakers.
  9. Wide shot, journalists, seated, writing notes and checking mobile phones.
  10. Close-up, speaker shown in TV camera viewfinder, TV screen to rear, blurred.
  11. Medium shot, participants seated and working on laptops.
  12. Close-up, journalist writes notes on notepad.
  13. Medium shot, participants, one wearing headphones.

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