Ukrainians living in the regions occupied by the Russian army in Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia risk deportation from their own homes in violation of international law if they do not accept Russian citizenshipHuman Rights Watch (HRW) denounced this Tuesday.
This was ruled by a decree promulgated on April 27 by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who seeks to deport the Ukrainian inhabitants of the four illegally annexed Ukrainian regions in September 2022.
“The decree is the next step in the expedited ‘passport’ process that Russia has implemented for residents of the occupied Ukrainian territories since February 2022. Those who hesitate to apply for a Russian passport quickly fall under the scrutiny of the occupation authorities. As in Crimea after the Russian occupation in 2014, they can expect to face threats and discrimination, including in access to healthcare or social services.”, HRW said in a report.
The human rights organization denounced that a Ukrainian inhabitant in the Tokmak district was harassed by Russian soldiers, who came to his house about six times. On one of those visits, they searched his home and took the mobile phones of his relatives for a supposed “security check”.
“They asked why we have not applied for the Russian passport”, said the Ukrainian.
For her part, Hanna denounced that Russian troops have constantly threatened her family, who lives in the city of Melitopol.
“A Russian authority told them that if they don’t get their passports, their land will be confiscated and the whole family, including small children, will be deported,” Hanna said.
According to an HRW investigation, Russian authorities in the occupied territories have lists of people they consider “unreliable.” Most include those who have not applied for Russian citizenship (passport) or registered for social benefits.
“For months, Russia has been boosting its reconstruction efforts in the city of Mariupol, which has suffered considerable destruction from the war. Lyudmila, whose apartment was badly damaged during the fighting in March 2022, said that money and materials for repair work are only given to the owner if she can present a Russian passport, ”HRW denounced.
The NGO points out that Russia, as the occupying power, is obliged to comply with international humanitarian law. In addition, Moscow must respect the laws in force and recalled that it has no sovereignty over the occupied territory.
“Civilians in the occupied territories retain all the protections provided by international law and cannot be forced to renounce their rights. Russia has international legal obligations to ensure that the rights of everyone in the occupied territory are protected.”stressed HRW.
According to the Russian Interior Ministry, more than two million foreigners, mainly from former Soviet republics, have obtained Russian citizenship in the past three years.
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