International Red Cross investigates abduction of children from Ukraine by Belarusian Red Cross
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has launched an investigation after the recent trip of the head of the Belarusian Red Cross, Dmitriy Shevtsov, to the occupied territories of Ukraine, during which he confessed to abducting Ukrainian children and taking them to Belarus.
Source: press service of the International Red Cross; press service of the Ukrainian Red Cross
Quote from ICRC: "The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has learned from the media that the Secretary General of the Belarus Red Cross recently visited Luhansk and Donetsk. We were not made aware of the visit, nor were we involved in any of the activities, including with children.
Actions by any of our member national Red Cross or Red Crescent Societies in contradiction with our humanitarian mission, Fundamental Principles and policies are taken extremely seriously by IFRC.
The IFRC has therefore referred this case to the Compliance and Mediation Committee, which, under our constitution, is an independent body investigating and addressing alleged breaches of integrity."
Details: In particular, the ICRC condemned Shevtsov's use of a symbol associated with a party to the "conflict in Ukraine" [camouflage with the letter "Z", the symbol of Russia's armed aggression in Ukraine – ed.] during one of his trips, as this violates the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
Quote from ICRC: "These actions risk damaging the trust of our work in supporting communities in need, whoever they are and whichever side of the frontlines they are on. It is essential that all components of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement maintain their independence from governments and weapon bearers.
We have contacted the Belarus Red Cross to express our grave concern and to stop any similar activity in the future."
More details: The Ukrainian Red Cross also condemned the actions of the Belarusian society.
Quote: "The Ukrainian Red Cross strongly condemns the actions of the Belarusian Red Cross regarding their activities in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, particularly in Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts.
.. The actions mentioned above [Shevtsov's confession – ed.] confirm the conscious position of the Belarusian Red Cross in support of the child abduction policy and legislation of the Russian aggression against Ukraine. This indicates not only a deliberate disregard by the organisation of its statutory obligations within the International Movement but also severe violations of international humanitarian law."
Previously: On 20 July, the Belarusian opposition media reported that Dmitriy Shevtsov, the Head of the Belarusian Red Cross, had travelled to the occupied territories of Ukraine and confessed on Belarusian state television that the country's Red Cross "is taking and will continue to do so" children from the occupied territories of Ukraine.
Earlier, the Belarusian media reported that he had been spotted wearing camouflage with the letter Z on it during a previous trip there.
Background: In June, the Belarusian Red Cross reported that over 700 children from Ukraine were in the country.
Earlier, the Belarusian opposition reported that over 2,000 Ukrainian children had been deported to Belarus. They said that Lukashenko personally signed documents related to this war crime.
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