Prosecutor General Andrei Kostin assured that the Russians will be held accountable for violating international law. According to him, war also has its own laws.
Law enforcement officers will investigate the murder of a Ukrainian soldier filmed on video as a violation of the laws and customs of war. The Security Service of Ukraine has registered the relevant criminal proceedings. This was reported by the press service of the Office of the Prosecutor General.
“The video of the brutal and daring execution of an unarmed man today stirred up the society. The Main Investigation Department of the SBU registered a criminal proceeding under Article 438 part 2 of the Criminal Code – violation of the laws and customs of war. Procedural management will be carried out by prosecutors of the Office of the Prosecutor General,” the office shared.
The video in question is not published by Focus for ethical reasons. It shows a man in military uniform smoking a cigarette. He loudly says “Glory to Ukraine” into the camera, after which an automatic burst is heard – an unknown person falls to the ground.
“Even war has laws. There are norms of international law that the criminal Russian regime systematically neglects. But sooner or later, a crime will be punished. All those involved will be held accountable before the Law,” said Prosecutor General Andrei Kostin.
The execution of a prisoner of war: what is known
The video posted by blogger Sergei Sternenko was commented by Andriy Yermak, Head of the Office of the President. The official said that the Russians would be held accountable for the war crimes committed. According to Yermak, the invaders justify them with Nazi myths imposed by propaganda.
Later, Ombudsman Dmitry Lubinets said that he sent the video as evidence of another Russian war crime to his colleagues from around the world. The official was outraged that the Russians killed a man for words that now command respect in the world. “The shooting of a captured Ukrainian soldier is a violation of the Geneva Conventions,” Lubinets said.
