20 criminal cases opened in connection with deportation of Ukrainian citizens to Russia and Belorus – prosecutor general

VALENTYNA ROMANENKO – SATURDAY, 4 JUNE 2022, 16:42 p.m.

More than 20 criminal cases concerning the forced displacement of Ukrainian citizens to Russia and Belorus are being investigated in Ukraine at the moment.

Source: Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova in a commentary to "Ukrinform" ("Укрінформ")

Direct quote: "There are more than 20 cases dealing with forced displacement cases of Ukrainian citizens to Russia and Belorus. The Criminal Code of Ukraine contains an article on genocide where it is stated clearly that the forced displacement of children is a factor that classifies a crime as genocide, so this is the direction we are following in our investigations".

Details: The Prosecutor General also stated that lack of access to the territories and the deported children is making the investigation more complicated.

Previously: On June 1st the Irish Senate recognised the Russian invasion into Ukraine as genocide.  

Backstory:

•       The first independent report concerning accusing Russia of genocide in Ukraine states that Russia’s actions in Ukraine amount to sufficient proof to allow the conclusion that Moscow is inciting genocide and committing atrocities aimed at the annihilation of Ukrainian people.
•       On March 16th the International Court of Justice in The Hague called on Russia to stop the military action in Ukraine it started on February 24th 2022, the declared aim of which was to "prevent and punish" alleged genocide in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions of Ukraine (for more details, see First Decision in Hague: The Meaning of the Decision of International Court of Justice in the "genocide" case against Russia).
•       The Kremlin claimed that it will ignore the decision.