Russian court verdict on Azov unit aims to re-categorize Ukrainian POWs under different laws - Ruslan Muzychuk

This is reported on Espreso TV. 

Ruslan Muzychuk noted that Russian propaganda worked quite negatively in relation to the Azov unit.

The press secretary of the commander of the National Guard of Ukraine emphasized: "During the existence of the Azov unit, various representatives of foreign media had the opportunity to visit this unit, its training and see that they are ordinary Ukrainian citizens who serve in accordance with the law. The unit's activities are determined by the statutes of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and all laws that regulate the activities of military forces and military formations in Ukraine".

Muzychuk added that various monitoring organizations, including the UN monitoring mission, worked in Mariupol before the start of the full-scale invasion, and there were no official appeals to the National Guard regarding any violations related to the activities of the unit and other members of the National Guard.

"Recognition of the Azov unit by the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation as a terrorist organization can primarily be aimed at ensuring that the servicemen who are currently in captivity are not considered as combatants (persons who are part of the armed forces of a belligerent country and take part directly in hostilities  - Ed.), which are covered by all the norms of the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law, guaranteeing appropriate treatment as prisoners of war in accordance with international regulations. Because persons who are recognized as terrorists or recognized as belonging to the activities of terrorist organizations are a category of people to whom other norms of law can be applied", Ruslan Muzychuk noted.

The press secretary of the commander of the National Guard of Ukraine concluded that such a court opinion is aimed at discrediting this unit and applying completely different legal norms to Ukrainian defenders in Russian captivity.