UN commission has not found ‘sufficient evidence’ of genocide in Ukraine
UN’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry in Ukraine is yet to conclusively establish that Russia is committing genocide in Ukraine, chairman Erik Møse said at a press conference in Kyiv on Sept. 4.
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“At the present stage, we have still not concluded that there is a genocide [happening] in Ukraine,” said Møse.
“Let me say that we perfectly aware of the concerns and allegations around the crime…; we are investigating this step-by-step. As of now, we do not have sufficient evidence to meet the legal qualifications of the Genocide Convention.”
At the same time, Møse pointed out that the commission has recorded a large number of violations by Russian forces, including intentional killings, illegal detentions, torture, rape and other forms of sexual violence, deportation of children.
Many of these violations qualify as war crimes, and some, if substantiated by further evidence, could be classified as crimes against humanity, specifically torture and attacks on civilian infrastructure, said Møse. He added that some statements in Russian media may be considered as incitement to genocide, but the commission is yet to reach a final decision on the matter.
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In October, the commission will present its report to the UN General Assembly and, in March 2024, to the UN Human Rights Council.
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In March, the commission issued a report confirming that Russian attacks on civilians in Ukraine, systematic torture, rape, and murders in occupied territories were tantamount to war crimes, and possibly crimes against humanity.
The NATO Parliamentary Assembly formally designated Russia's aggression against Ukraine as genocide on May 22.
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, via a resolution passed on April 27, recognized the forced relocation of Ukrainian children to Russia as genocide.
Parliamentary bodies of the Czech Republic, Canada, Estonia, Latvia, and several other countries have officially recognized Russia's crimes in Ukraine as genocide.
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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
