Ukraine asks ECHR to prevent trial of Azovstal prisoners, find out how they are treated in captivity

This is stated in a joint statement of the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, published on August 23.

The petition regarding the Azov residents was submitted within the framework of the interstate case "Ukraine v. Russia (X)" under application No. 11055/22 regarding the violation of human rights during the full-scale Russian invasion of our country.

In particular, Ukraine demands that urgent measures be taken to prevent the use of Ukrainian defenders in any kind of so-called "tribunals" and other show courts staged by the Russian invaders.

Separately, Ukraine appealed to the ECtHR with a demand to compel Russia to provide information regarding the detention and medical care needed by the Ukrainian heroes.

"Ukrainian defenders of Mariupol are combatants, legal participants in hostilities. If captured, they receive the status of prisoners of war, which requires proper treatment based on the Third Geneva Convention on the Treatment of Prisoners of War of 1949. Conducting any trials of prisoners of war for propaganda purposes is prohibited and equated to war crimes. We appeal to the world with the demand to use all available mechanisms to protect our prisoners of war and to bring the Russian Federation and specific individuals to justice for their crimes," emphasized the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba.

"Ukraine records the crimes of the Russian Federation and uses the available international legal opportunities to ensure the rights of Ukrainian defenders who are held captive by the Russian occupiers. Our position is clear: they are prisoners of war, no trial can be held against them. We expect the ECtHR to carefully consider and will satisfy Ukraine's request," Deputy Minister of Justice Iryna Mudra said.