Red Cross says no access to Ukrainian POWs in two years

Red Cross Reports No Access to Ukrainian Prisoners of War in Russia for Two Years

Red Cross Denied Access and Ongoing Concerns

(Corrects to change date of meeting in Moscow in paragraph 5 from "last month" to July)

ICRC Access Blocked Since 2022

GENEVA, Sept 18 (Reuters) - The International Committee of the Red Cross has been denied access to Ukrainian prisoners of war held in Russian detention for two years, it told Reuters on Friday.

Conditions in Russian Detention Centres

Thousands of Ukrainian prisoners of war are believed to be held in Russian detention centres where UN investigators have gathered evidence of systematic torture.

Geneva Conventions and ICRC Mandate

The 1949 Geneva Conventions, intended to limit the barbarity of war, provide for Swiss-based ICRC to visit prisoners of war to monitor their conditions, treatment, food and medical care.

Russian Response and Denials

Russia denies torture or other forms of maltreatment of POWs. The Russian diplomatic mission in Geneva did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Recent Developments and Official Statements

ICRC Statement on Access

"We can confirm the lack of access to POWs in Russia since 2024," an ICRC spokesperson said. ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric raised the issue on a trip to Russia in July.

Call for Dialogue on Detention

"If you want to uphold humanity, you have to talk about detention and what happens in prison," Spoljaric told the BBC earlier on Friday.

Reporting Credits

(Reporting by Emma Farge;Editing by Ludwig Burger and Kevin Liffey)