May 22, 2015Deutsche Welle
Amnesty International has released a report detailing war crimes perpetrated by pro-Kyiv and pro-Russia forces. The report details summary killings, mock executions and torture on both sides of the conflict in Ukraine. The human rights watchdog interviewed more than 30 former prisoners of war, including 16 held by pro-Kyiv forces and 17 by separatists, and corroborated the testimonies with additional information. The conflict has left more than 6,000 dead and nearly 2 million displaced after it kicked off in the first half of 2014.
"Prisoners on both sides have been beaten and subjected to mock executions. We have also documented summary killings of those held by separatist groups. It is a war crime to torture or deliberately kill captives taken during conflict," John Dalhuisen, Amnesty's program director for Europe and Central Asia programs, said in a statement.
"Former prisoners described being beaten until their bones broke, tortured with electric shocks, kicked, stabbed, hung from the ceiling, deprived of sleep for days, threatened with death, denied urgent medical care and subjected to mock executions," Amnesty International said in the report.
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Updated Report:
- Amnesty International, "Ukraine: Overwhelming new evidence of prisoners being tortured and killed amid conflict," May 22, 2015
- Report from Amnesty International: "Ukraine: Breaking Bodies: Torture and Summary Killings in Eastern Ukraine," May 22, 2015
