Forcible deportation of Ukrainians to Russia “war crime” - Borrell

That’s according to Josep Borrell, who spoke at the European Parliament on Wednesday, addressing the facts of forcible transfers of Ukrainian citizens to Russia, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

The European Union demands that “any checks and filtrations, and any detention that may follow such checks, takes place in a legal framework respecting the principles of necessity and proportionality,” said Borrell.

He also stressed that forcible transfers of civilians are prohibited under International Humanitarian Law, notably the Geneva Convention.

“All cases of enforced disappearances must be duly investigated and those responsible therefore held accountable for war crimes,” said the EU’s top diplomat. 

Let me finally underline the fate of persons in the most vulnerable situations in this context - namely women and children. They face risks which include sexual exploitation, trafficking, sexual violence, far from public eye. It is our common duty to focus on accountability and on widespread condemnation.

While awaiting further reports on the situation on the ground, the European Union demands that “all persons reported disappeared or missing in Ukraine must be searched for, located, and released or returned.”

“Therefore, we call for unimpeded access by UN entities, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and civil society to all areas where civilians are detained,” Borrell noted.

He also underlined the fate of persons “in the most vulnerable situations in this context” – women and children – who ace risks which include sexual exploitation, trafficking, sexual violence, far from public eye.

“It is our common duty to focus on accountability and on widespread condemnation. (…)The European Union’s position on Russia’s unjustified and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine is clear: the EU stands by Ukraine as long as it takes. And the European Union takes action against Russia - the aggressor and the perpetrator of atrocities and crimes against Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. 

He recalled that among the steps taken was to adopt “the largest sanctions package ever,” adding that “nothing is off the table.” Russia is heading for the worst recession since 1990, Borrell stressed.

Just last week the European Union fully suspended the Visa Facilitation Agreement with Russia, and is now working with partners around the world to counter Russian disinformation, raising awareness that it is Russia’s aggression – not Western sanctions – which is aggravating the food and energy crises. In this regard, the European Union seeks to isolate Russia in international fora and calling it out for its breaches of international law and international humanitarian law. 

“The European Union is supporting all efforts on accountability, seeking to document the evidence needed to hold the perpetrators of war crimes accountable,” the official said, adding that the EU has heard the allegations of forced removal to territories under Russian military control, or to the Russian Federation itself.

“We are particularly concerned that the United Nations Human Rights Office has found credible allegations of forced transfers of unaccompanied minors. We encourage United Nations entities and non-governmental human rights organizations to pursue their work in documenting these allegations in order to have a solid picture of their scope and their scale,” Borrell stressed.