Ukrainian organizations that defend the rights of prisoners of war are preparing an appeal to the European Union with a call to impose sanctions on Russia which has repeatedly blocked the exchange of prisoners and civilian hostages, according to UkrInform.
“We, non-governmental organizations, have prepared an appeal to the European Parliament, the European Commission, and the Council of the European Union on imposing special sanctions against Russia over Ukrainian prisoners,” said the head of the organization “Warrior Liberation”, Natalia Yepifanova at the “Captured and missing Ukrainians. Problems of return. Ways of resolution” press conference.
Yepifanova added that volunteers abroad would gather signatures from citizens of EU countries to support the appeal. The collected signatures would be subsequently submitted to members of the European Parliament to initiate a new package of restrictions on Russia.
“Based on this, we would like to appeal to the International Working Group on Russian Sanctions.
We want to request the initiative group for a joint meeting of representatives of this International Group and representatives of non-governmental organizations who have signed this appeal so that we can discuss joint steps to advance the imposing sanctions against Russia in the context of military prisoners, the missing individuals, and civilian hostages,” she noted.
Earlier, Stanislav Buniatov, a soldier of the 24th Separate Assault Brigade of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, posted a video that showed the execution of Ukrainian prisoners by Russian soldiers in Zaporizhzhia Oblast (southeastern Ukraine).
Russian troops execute Ukrainian POWs in southeastern Ukraine
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