Lubinets appeals to Russian Ombudsman over death of Azov soldier Oleksandr Ishchenko in captivity
The Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets sent an immediate letter to the Russian Ombudsman Tatyana Moskalkova regarding the death of Mariupol defender Oleksandr Ishchenko in Russian captivity. Lubinets also informed the ICRC and the UN about the tragedy.
This was reported by Censor.NET with reference to the statement of the Ombudsman in his telegram channel.
"I learned about the death of Mariupol defender Oleksandr Ishchenko, 55, who was tried by Russians under a trumped-up article and held in a detention center in Russia," Lubinets wrote.
According to Ishchenko's daughter, her father died 9 days ago. However, no one officially informed the Ukrainian side about this. There was also no official report on the cause of death of the defense lawyer.
"Therefore, I sent an immediate letter to the Russian Ombudsman to investigate the tragic death of a prisoner of war held by the Russian side and to inform me of the circumstances and cause of death of Oleksandr Ishchenko," the ombudsman wrote.
In addition, Lubinets additionally informed the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations to record the death of the prisoner of war and to pay attention to the conditions of detention of Ukrainian defenders in captivity.
"Ukraine demands that the Russian Federation strictly adhere to the Geneva Conventions - provide the necessary medical care, create a mixed medical commission to enable the repatriation of all seriously ill and seriously wounded," the Ombudsman said in a statement.
Finally, Lubinets recalled that according to Article 12 of the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, prisoners of war are in the hands of the enemy state, not the individuals or military units that took them prisoner. Regardless of the responsibility that individuals may bear, the state that holds them captive is responsible for the treatment of prisoners of war.
As a reminder, on Wednesday, July 31, it became known that one of the captured Ukrainian soldiers of the Azov regiment, 55-year-old Oleksandr Ishchenko, died in a Russian detention center.
The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War confirmed to Babel the fact of the Ukrainian's death, but did not specify any details.
