Interrogated, threatened with torture: Lubinets informs international organizations about disappearance of Ukrainians on Russian-Estonian border

This was reported by the Verkhovna Rada's Press Service on Human Rights.

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Estonia, on October 5, several hundred Ukrainians who had been there in recent days disappeared in the area of ​​the crossing point of the Russian-Estonian border from the Russian Federation - they were taken away by the Russians in trucks in an unknown direction.

According to Dmytro Lubinets, Ukrainians undergo repeated humiliating "filtering" procedures at border crossings. Russians can check the contents of phone correspondence and look at photos, as well as ask to undress to check for "patriotic tattoos" and interrogate details of personal and family life. Sometimes such "checks" last for hours, and FSB representatives threaten with imprisonment and torture.

According to the Commissioner, after the announcement of mobilization on the territory of the Russian Federation and the holding of sham "referendums" in the temporarily occupied territories, the Kremlin seems to have forgotten that serfdom was abolished back in 1861. You can temporarily occupy territories by force, but you cannot appropriate people's lives and freedoms.

Dmytro Lubinets drew attention to the fact that the OSCE mission planned to conduct interviews with Ukrainian citizens who were deported to Russia or those who had to use the territory of Russia to cross the border of Estonia from next week. The mission planned to pay special attention to people who have undergone "filtering" measures or other types of illegal actions by Russian servicemen or representatives of security agencies.

On the eve of the notification of the disappearance of the Ukrainians, the Estonian Minister of Internal Affairs Lauri Läänemets, together with the UK Ambassador Ross Allen and the 1st Secretary of Ukraine's Embassy Volodymyr Havryliuk, made a joint extraordinary express visit to the Luhamaa border crossing.

The situation at the border crossing was disappointing. Russian border guards did not allow Ukrainian refugees who are hiding from the war and leaving the borders of the temporarily occupied territories to pass through the only possible way - transit through the Russian Federation. Ukrainians at checkpoints wait for about 4-5 days to cross the border. In open areas, far from settlements, in increasingly cold and humid weather, without the necessary warm clothes and food.  Including the elderly, small children, and young mothers.

"The Russian authorities limit the access of volunteers to the checkpoints, making it impossible to provide assistance to our citizens from non-governmental and international organizations. Arriving at the Estonian border checkpoint, many of our citizens need first aid, warm food, and words of support. Most Ukrainians go on to another European country or return to free Ukraine," the Ombudsman states.