Andriy Yermak at meeting with ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric Egger
Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak met with a delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) led by President of the ICRC Mirjana Spoljaric Egger.
Relatives of former prisoners of war also took part in the meeting: Kateryna, the wife of Commander of the Azov Separate Special Forces Detachment Denys Prokopenko, Tetiana Kharko, the sister of marine Serhiy Volynsky, as well as military medic Mariana Mamonova released from Russian captivity in September.
The Head of the Office of the President welcomed the President of the ICRC in Ukraine.
He said that the Russian aggressor continues committing genocide against Ukrainians by striking civilian infrastructure so that millions of people are deprived of electricity, water and gas supply during winter.
The head of the President's Office briefed Spoljaric Egger on the peace formula proposed by the Ukrainian Head of State at the G20 summit, which, in particular, provides for the all-for-all exchange of prisoners of war.
Yermak expressed his misunderstanding regarding the passivity shown by ICRC representatives in the matter of ensuring the rights of Ukrainian prisoners.
Kateryna Prokopenko said that representatives of the ICRC do not visit Ukrainian prisoners who are being held in unsatisfactory conditions. She called on the ICRC to get involved in finding out the whereabouts of the POWs, as well as in finding out the medical care needs of Ukrainians.
Mamonova said that it is very difficult for women in captivity because they are not provided with even basic hygiene products.
"It's very hard for men there, but it's even harder for women. They are deprived of all means of hygiene, there is not enough water, and there is no medical examination. Women suffer from psychological violence. Everyone hoped that representatives of the ICRC would arrive during these six months of captivity, who could have protected the women," she said.
Mamonova, who was expecting a baby, while she was in captivity, said that she hoped for a priority release, but that did not happen.
"I was pregnant and I hoped that the ICRC would exchange me because I am a medic, an officer and a pregnant woman who, according to all conventions, should have been the first to go for exchange," the woman said.
However, according to her, the ICRC participated neither in the exchange nor in the provision of medical care to wounded Ukrainians who were captured by the enemy.
"I'm asking for your help to have representatives there who could prevent violence, brutal treatment of women and men," she said.
Kharko called on the ICRC to make every effort so that the occupiers stop using forceful methods of influence on captured Ukrainians.
"I want to address you as a person to a person. You also have a brother, sister, mother, and father. Help people who are in captivity. They don't deserve what they are going through there," she added.
Spoljaric Egger said that she would discuss with the organization's representatives possible ways to improve the conditions of detention of prisoners of war and prevent torture.
She said that following the norms of international law, the ICRC does not have the authority to forcefully grant it permission to visit places of detention of prisoners.
"We work daily to carry out our activities with prisoners of war. So far, we are doing it at different levels. We are trying to conduct a dialogue, and we really hope that we will be able to launch large-scale activities in this direction," Spoljaric Egger said.
In response, the head of the President's Office said that Russia has violated all international conventions, so reference to the norms of international law in this context is not a sufficient argument.
Yermak said that the Russian aggression demonstrated the crisis state of the global human rights protection system. In such a situation, international institutions, organizations and their employees do not have time to respond to the need for changes.
"Russia has violated all possible conventions, including the Geneva Convention. Therefore, I don't agree with references to the norms of international law when we are dealing with a country that denies the existence of international law," he said.
The head of the President's Office said that human rights organizations should change their activities under current requirements.
Yermak expressed his hope that qualitative changes would also be seen in the work of the ICRC under the leadership of Spoljaric Egger, and it would be effective in current conditions.
"Ukraine expects more concrete and effective steps from the ICRC regarding the release of captured Ukrainians," he said.
The head of the President's Office said that the Ukrainian authorities would make every effort and use every opportunity to return every person from captivity. He expressed hope that the ICRC under the leadership of Spoljaric Egger would do everything possible to gain access to the places of detention of Ukrainian prisoners.
