A video showing the beheading of a Ukrainian has sparked international outrage. Volodymyr Zelenskyj calls for confiscation of Russian assets. An overview.
A video allegedly showing the beheading of a Ukrainian prisoner of war by Russian fighters has caused horror far beyond Ukraine. Observers from the United Nations in Ukraine and Czech President Petr Pavel were shocked.
“The long history of Russian impunity must finally end,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The Kremlin in Moscow, however, questioned the authenticity of the video. In fact, this had not yet been finally verified by an independent party. A former Russian mercenary claims to have “clearly” identified his former comrades as the perpetrators.
A video of around one and a half minutes appeared on the Internet on Wednesday night. It shows one man in uniform being beheaded by another. The perpetrator wears a white marking on his clothing that is typical for Russian soldiers. In addition to checking the authenticity, an independent analysis of the time of the recording is still pending.
Civil rights activists: Russian mercenaries identified in beheading video
According to civil rights activists, a Russian ex-mercenary identified earlier comrades as the perpetrators. The video material was sent to Andrei Medvedev, who fled to Norway months ago and is currently being held in Sweden, said the founder of the Russian civil rights organization Gulagu.net, Vladimir Ossechkin, on Wednesday.
“He listened and watched it carefully several times, and he clearly recognizes there his former colleagues, fighters of the Wagner mercenary group,” Ossechkin said in the post, which was published on the YouTube channel of expatriate Russian opposition figure Mikhail Khodorkovsky. Medvedev, who used to fight for the notorious Russian mercenary group himself, identified the men based on “characteristic call signs and their way of speaking,” the civil rights activist said.
Ossechkin’s organization is actually primarily known for its work against violence in Russian prison camps. However, she also looked after ex-mercenary Medvedev when he was arrested in Norway in January under the local immigration law after fleeing. Medvedev was later released in Norway – but a few weeks later he was imprisoned in neighboring Sweden for illegal entry.
Selenskyj calls for a minute’s silence after a cruel video
Zelenskyy called for a minute’s silence at an event in Washington after the video was released. “I would now ask you to observe a minute’s silence for the Ukrainian soldier whose death we all witnessed yesterday,” said Zelensky, who joined the video at a roundtable on Ukraine during the spring meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. He also remembered the other victims of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine. Then Selenskyj paused briefly.
“Ukraine is going through a storm of emotions right now,” the Ukrainian President said. The Russian army is trying to make this level of violence and atrocities routine throughout Ukraine and is proud of it.
Czech President Compares Russia to Islamic State
Czech President Pavel was also shocked. “If this video turns out to be authentic, then Russian soldiers have lined up with the Islamic State, which we should all condemn around the world,” said the off-duty general in Prague.
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Zelenskyj demands confiscation of Russian assets
Zelenskyj also called in Washington for the confiscation of Russian state assets and making them available to his country for reconstruction. “Russia must feel the full price of its aggression,” said Zelenskyy. It is realistic to confiscate Russia’s assets and those of the Russian central bank so that life in Ukraine can be restored. Selenskyj repeated this demand a little later in his evening video speech. The world community has largely lagged behind similar calls by Ukraine in the past. The main reasons were legal concerns and practical hurdles.
Yellen: Supporting Ukraine is a joint effort
The US government called on the world community not to let up on financial aid to Ukraine. “Supporting Ukraine is a joint effort,” warned US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen at the spring meeting of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. “We applaud the efforts of our allies and partners to provide extensive (…) and timely assistance,” Yellen said, urging everyone “to continue to do so.”
