About 40,000 Mariupol residents forcibly taken to ‘DPR’ or Russia

The relevant statement was made by Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Liudmyla Denisova on Telegram, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

“The calculation of deportees is complicated, as they [Russian invaders - Ed.] seize Ukrainian documents from people,” Denisova noted.

In her words, ruscists separate parents from children. A total of 17 children were taken by Russian invaders from a hospital in Mariupol, while their parents were left in Mariupol and evacuated to Zaporizhzhia.

“Some of Mariupol residents, who had been forcibly deported, were found in Estonia, as they came there from the territory of Russia. Similarly, people from Kherson Region, Kharkiv Region and Luhansk Region got to Estonia via the territory of Russia,” Denisova told.

Some people noted they decided to go via Russia, as they were not able to leave for western Ukraine. But, there are also people, who were forcibly taken to Russia and then allowed to go elsewhere on their own.

According to Denisova, Russia deliberately violates the provisions of Article 49 of the Geneva Conventions relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, based on which forcible transfers and deportations from occupied territories are prohibited.

“I appeal to the International Committee of the Red Cross to make every effort and assist in bringing the Ukrainians illegally taken to Russia back and opening safe humanitarian corridors from the areas of hostilities,” Denisova stressed.

Denisova also urged the UN Commission established to investigate violations committed during Russia’s military attack on Ukraine and the OSCE expert mission to consider the evidence of Russia’s violations of human rights in Ukraine.