PACE unanimously adopts resolution recognizing Russia’s abduction of Ukrainian children as genocide

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) unanimously adopted a resolution on the Situation of Ukrainian Children, urging EU member states to recognize Russia’s abduction of Ukrainian children as genocide of the Ukrainian people, MP Oleksiy Honcharenko, President of the PACE Migration Committee, said on Telegram on Jan. 25.

Read also: 17 more children from Donbas abducted by Kremlin to Russia under pretext of ‘rehabilitation’

“An important document that is another step towards punishing and bringing to justice the crimes of Russians against Ukrainians,” said Honcharenko.

“The kidnapping of our children, their illegal transportation, and their adoption into Russian families is the forced destruction of Ukrainian identity.”

The resolution also calls on EU member states, where Ukrainian refugees with children have fled, to continue providing them with everything they need, he said.

Compared to the resolution adopted last April, this document includes additional provisions for protecting Ukrainian children, said MP Yevhenia Kravchuk.

Read also: Ukraine rescues four more children from Russia and occupied territories

The PACE set up a special committee on Nov. 27 to investigate the violation of the rights of Ukrainian children by Russians.

First Lady Olena Zelenska announced on Dec. 9, 2023, that Ukraine had managed to return 387 children out of nearly 20,000 abducted by Russians through third countries.

Dmytro Lubinets reported during the fourth meeting of the Peace Formula Advisors in Davos on Jan. 14 that Ukraine had returned 517 illegally abducted children and 2,828 adults from Russia, including only 150 civilians.

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