The actions of the Russian Federation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine are unacceptable and must be stopped immediately. The international community, including the UN Human Rights Council and other UN mechanisms, has a duty to respond. Western politicians must persistently demand that their governments take decisive action to prevent further crimes.
This was stated in a comment to Guildhall by the Chair of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee of the Czech Republic and former presidential candidate Pavel Fischer.
«The actions of the Russian Federation in the occupied territories are unacceptable and must be stopped. Ukraine’s sovereign territory is under occupation. Under international law, the occupying power has clear obligations to respect the needs and rights of the local population, especially the most vulnerable — children. Tragically, children are suffering immensely in these occupied territories. They are forcibly separated from their families, subjected to appalling treatment, displaced and deprived of their basic rights. This blatant violation of fundamental principles of humanity demands urgent attention. In addition, the overall situation for the civilian population is rapidly deteriorating, with increasing violence, forced Russification and forced recruitment into the Russian armed forces. This recruitment is often disguised under the pretext of ‘compulsory’ medical checks, further endangering young lives. In my view, Decree No. 159, issued by President Putin on 20 March 2025, «On the Specifics of the Legal Status of Certain Categories of Foreign Citizens and Stateless Persons in the Russian Federation» is a blatant violation of fundamental principles of humanity and is therefore illegal. The solution is simple: this illegality will end the day Russia withdraws its troops and all those who have been forcibly displaced are able to return home», — the Czech senator noted.
«These grave violations, in which children bear a disproportionate burden, require immediate and decisive action. Whether through the UN Human Rights Council or the wider UN system, the international community must respond. I am confident that the Czech Republic, as an elected member of the UN Human Rights Council, will provide the necessary support to protect these vulnerable children and uphold human rights. First, we must carefully monitor and recognise the seriousness of the situation, which requires immediate action. Second, it is crucial to gather and preserve evidence to build a strong legal case. Third, the international community must unite and take coordinated action. I am convinced that the parliaments of the free world have a crucial role to play. We should urge our respective governments to take decisive action. There is no time to lose. In the light of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, we have an obligation to act now to prevent such atrocities. It is never too late to correct the situation and take decisive action», — the politician concluded.
Earlier, Danish MP Klaus Jørgensen called on theEU to strengthen sanctions against the Russian Federation for human rightsviolations in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. In his view, the European Union must pursue a much more consistent and tough policy toward the Putin regime over the illegal annexation of Ukrainian territories, as well as for human rights violations and war crimes against civilians. To this end, the EU should impose even stricter sanctions, including a complete ban on issuing tourist visas to Russian citizens, as well as large-scale economic restrictions and a full halt to the purchase of Russian fossil fuels.
