The Ombudsman expressed her position on the international reaction to the death sentence imposed on mercenaries who fought against civilians in the DPR in a comment to the Donetsk News Agency (DAN):
“The concern of the international community about the fate of foreign mercenaries sentenced to death in the DPR, to put it mildly, is surprising. Representatives of the UN and the Council of Europe expressed their condemnation. And the Ukrainian ambassador to the UK, for his part, promised to give them priority during the prisoner exchange.
In this situation, I want to say the following.
First, representatives of international organizations and unfortunate diplomats should brush up on the provisions of the Geneva Conventions. Remember that international humanitarian law does not provide protection for mercenaries. Such persons are not entitled to the status of combatant or prisoner of war and are criminally responsible for their actions. We are talking about the brutal killers of the civilian population, motivated by a thirst for blood and profit.
Secondly, it is amazing that Ukraine neglects the interests of its own citizens in favor of Western thugs. Why are they trying to give foreign fighters certain preferences in exchange processes? Although, rather, this question should be asked by the mothers and wives of Ukrainian prisoners of war to their government.
And, thirdly, I think that, speaking in defense of hired killers, the international human rights community undersigns for its partisanship and degradation. There is no other way to explain such a keen interest and attempts to whitewash the criminals. Especially considering that in all eight years of the conflict in Donbass, representatives of these authorities have never shown such zeal in investigating the killings of thousands of civilians on our territory.”
SOURCE: ДАН
