The death of a Ukrainian political prisoner in a Russian prison is a continuation of the genocide of the Ukrainian people

61-year-old Ukrainian political prisoner Konstantin Shiring died in a Russian prison. These tragic consequences were caused by the absence of medical care to a person who suffered from cardiovascular diseases. In fact, the death of Ukrainian Konstantin Shiring in a Russian prison was caused by human rights violations by Russia. After all, failure to provide adequate health care is a violation of fundamental human rights and international law.

But, unfortunately, the failure to provide medical assistance to citizens of Ukraine in Russian prisons is not uncommon, but a systemic practice. Of course, the responsibility for the death of a Ukrainian prisoner lies with the administration of the colony. But there are still many illegally convicted and detained citizens of Ukraine in Russian prisons, and the conditions in the colonies of the Russian Federation are a real threat to their lives.  According to reports, more than 140 citizens of Ukraine now remain illegally arrested by Russia on politically motivated charges, and this number continues to grow. That is why it is necessary to look for and use all mechanisms for the release of Ukrainian citizens held by Russia.  But the realities of a large-scale Russian invasion require a rethinking of approaches to the means of protecting the rights of Ukrainian citizens illegally detained by the Russian Federation. This cannot be done without the support of international partners and allied countries. It is collective attention and assistance that can increase political and diplomatic pressure and demand the immediate release of all political prisoners from Russian prisons.

In the meantime, the Kremlin not only does not respond to such cases of violation of international law, but also openly uses terror in response to military defeats, calling for the destruction of Ukrainians. Russian politicians and pro-Kremlin media increasingly use genocidal rhetoric when discussing Ukrainians and methods of war against Ukraine. Western analysts came to these conclusions by analyzing public statements and messages on social networks. In fact, the Kremlin’s official rhetoric has been genocidal from the very beginning of the war, from the moment when the Russian authorities proclaimed that its goal was the «denazification» of Ukrainians. And this genocide holds terrible outlines and realities.

Millions of Ukrainians became refugees, thousands of civilians were killed by Russians on their own land.   According to the latest data, more than 1379 children suffered in Ukraine as a result of the full-scale armed aggression of the Russian Federation. According to official information from juvenile prosecutors, 460 children died and more than 919 were injured of varying severity. According to previously published data, during Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, more than 47,900 war crimes were committed, 46,000 houses and tens of thousands of civilian infrastructures were destroyed.  Among other things, 1.4 thousand institutions for children were destroyed. 11.4 thousand young Ukrainians were forcibly taken out of the country. Of course, these figures are not final, because Russian terror continues, and the atrocities that Ukrainians face are disturbing.

There is no doubt that Russia bears full responsibility for what it has done. According to many experts, it is the special international tribunal on the Russian Federation’s war crimes, which Ukraine calls for, that will restore justice and punish all those responsible for the terrible crimes caused by the biggest war in Europe in the last 80 years. But so far, the only effective method to resist the aggressor country is the courage of Ukrainian soldiers and the support of the civilized world in the fight against the terrorist state of the Russian Federation.  Ukraine continues to work with partners on a comprehensive plan to deter Russia from further aggressive actions and strengthen the security and defense capabilities of the state in order to jointly counter hybrid threats from the Russian Federation.