BRIEFING: The Plight of Ukrainian Civilians Detained Illegally by Russia

Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2212
Stream live here
 

While Russia and Ukraine periodically exchange military prisoners of war, no equivalent mechanism has been established for securing the release of Ukrainian civilians detained illegally by Russia. Many of the 16,000 Ukrainian civilians in Russian captivity are denied access to legal counsel, family contact, or adequate medical care. UN investigators found that 85 percent of formerly detained Ukrainian civilians had suffered torture or other ill-treatment, including sexual violence.

The plight of these detainees has received less attention than that of prisoners of war, even though civilians have fewer legal pathways home. Their families are left in prolonged uncertainty, with little or no reliable information about their loved ones. This briefing will examine the human toll on civilian detainees and their families and the challenges involved in securing their release. Panelists will also discuss what the United States and its international partners can do to increase pressure on the Russian authorities responsible.

Panelists:

Natalia Arno, president, Free Russia Foundation

Jasmine Cameron, visiting scholar, American University Washington College of Law, and founder, Juridia

Margaryta Shabanova, spouse of detained OSCE official Dmytro Shabanov 

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