Russia criticizes UN reaction to footage showing Ukrainian troops shoot Russian prisoners of war

MOSCOW

Russia on Tuesday accused the UN high commissioner for human rights of being "cynical and unprincipled" over his position on footage showing Russian prisoners of war being shot in Ukraine.

Commissioner Volker Turk only reacted to the incident after Western media outlets "made some fuss," Russian deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin said in an interview with the state-run news agency RIA.

Vershinin said that while Turk recognized the credibility of the video on Nov. 25 and said that the circumstances under which it took place should be thoroughly investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice, he took no further steps or made any other statements since then.

"To say that we are not satisfied with such a reaction of the main UN human rights defender is to say nothing. We consider the high commissioner's assessment of the atrocities of Ukrainian servicemen inadequate, and his position on this tragedy cynical and unprincipled," he said.

The diplomat asserted that international human rights officials reacted swiftly to any allegations against Russia. "They immediately and categorically pronounce verdict of 'guilty'," he said.

Despite the lack of a reaction from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Moscow will continue to seek "a principled and harsh condemnation" of the actions of the Ukrainian military, Vershanin added.

In mid-November, a video appeared on social media showing Ukrainian soldiers shoot Russian prisoners of war lying on the ground.

Commenting on statements by foreign human rights organizations about further cooperation with Russian rights activists and groups, Vershinin said arguments about the support of civil society, independent media, and democratic forces were "nothing more than a smokescreen with which unfriendly states and international structures are clumsily trying to cover up their true aspirations."

"The Council of Europe has long been eagerly involved in efforts aimed at forming a pro-Western 'fifth column' in Russia, artificially stimulating protest moods and activity, and splitting our society," he claimed.

Asked about recommendations from the Foreign Ministry against visiting "unfriendly countries," he said authorities in the US had been "hunting" for Russians for years, especially after President Joe Biden assumed office.

Sixty Russians are currently imprisoned in the US, noted Vershanin, who added that any Russian arrested at the US was bound to receive a guilty verdict.

Touching on EU calls for an international tribunal to investigate Russia's actions in Ukraine, he accused Brussels of trying to "cover up its own involvement in mass cases of war crimes committed by the Armed Forces of Ukraine."

The Russian official emphasized that such an tribunal would contradict international law and that countries supporting one of the sides could not spearhead its formation as they could not be expected to be impartial.

On an EU parliament resolution labeling Russia a state sponsor of terrorism, Vershinin said the motion had no legal power and was merely a way to stigmatize rivals and justify sanctions against them.

On remarks by International Olympic Committee chief Tomas Bach about the possibility of Russian athletes taking part in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, Vershinin said "a lot of statements are being made by international sport officers."

"In reality, incessant pressure and discrimination against Russian athletes remain unchanged," he added.