As President Christodoulides, representing the upcoming EU Presidency, was set today to visit a Kyiv centre hosting Ukrainian children that were returned by Russia, many orphaned, the UNGA adopted a resolution last night (Wednesday) calling on Moscow to secure the immediate, safe and unconditional return of all children who have been forcibly taken to Russia or internally displaced to Russian occupied territory.
The resolution was supported by 91 countries, 12 voted against and 57 abstained, following a 23rd meeting of the 11th Special Session on Ukraine. A document submitted by 39 member states, calls on the UNSG to undertake an active role in facilitating the process. Cyprus and Greece were amongst the members that submitted and supported the resolution.
The adopted document further condemns 'legislative and administrative' Russian actions which facilitate Russian citizenship by Ukrainian minors, as well as practices of adoption and fostering, described by the resolution as 'violations of international law'.
'Deep concern' is expressed on the fate of children separated by their families since 2014 when the Russian Federation annexted the Crimea.
The UNGA resolution refers to 'violent transfers and deportations', describing them as violations of the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit the forcible transfer or deportation of protected persons from occupied territory.
Abducted at gunpoint
Opening the meeting, General Assembly President and former FM of Germany Annalena Baerbock detailed the ordeal faced by Ukrainian children taken from their homes.
“Imagine you’re a 16-year-old going about your day […] when suddenly soldiers armed with machine guns wearing balaclavas to mask their faces burst into your home,” she said.
“They force you into your vehicle and drive you away in an unknown direction, and you find yourself stuck for months in a nightmare, with a different name.”
She stressed that international law is unambiguous.
Τhe document was presented by EU Permanent Representative Stavros Lamprianides who spoke at the special session.
'Τhe international community cannot stand idly by and watch the unacceptable fate of Ukrainian children', he said, underscoring that international organisations such as the UN, UNICEF, the UNCHR and the Red Cross have documented gross violations.
Russian officials, as he noted, 'have publicly confirmed' aspects of these illegal transfers, already under the legal microscope and pending in court.
Cynical Lie
Russia rejected the resolution as politically motivated. Ambassador Maria Zabolotskaya, Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, said the meeting ran counter to peace efforts and described the resolution as a “particularly cynical lie.”
She insisted Moscow remained open to cooperation on children’s issues, urging all States to oppose the text.
“Each vote for the resolution is support for lies, war and confrontation,” she said.
Through the resolution, the General Assembly also decided to temporarily adjourn its emergency special session, authorizing the Assembly President to reconvene it at the request of Member States.
SOURCE: UN NEWS