Russia’s Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, has defended the country’s decision to remove children from Ukraine in an informal United Nations meeting. The meeting was boycotted by US and UK ambassadors and over 40 other countries.
According to Lvova-Belova, Russia’s evacuation of Ukrainian children was solely motivated by a desire to protect them from the dangers of the war zone. She argued that it was imperative to relocate the children from areas that were under shelling to safer locations.
However, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has received evidence that contradicts her claims and suggests that children and infants were forcibly removed from Ukraine.
Contrasting Claims
Contrary to Lvova-Belova’s assertions, evidence presented to the ICC shows that at least 6,000 Ukrainian children have been taken to camps and other facilities in Russia and Russian-occupied territory, where they were subjected to pro-Russian re-education.
CBS News correspondent Chris Livesay interviewed some of the children who were allegedly taken from Ukraine into Russia or Russian-occupied territory. While some children were able to return to Ukraine, many others remain separated from their families.
The Ukrainian government claims that as many as 100,000 children have been moved into Russia or Russian-occupied territory, with 14,700 cases of documented deportation.
ICC’s Stance
The ICC has accused President Putin of being responsible for the war crime of unlawfully deporting children and transferring them from the occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation. Based on these allegations, an international arrest warrant was issued for Putin by the ICC in March.
The ICC has also issued an international arrest warrant for Lvova-Belova, accusing her of “alleged responsibility in the war crimes of unlawful deportation and unlawful transfer of these children.”
UK and US Boycott The Meeting
The US and the UK ambassadors boycotted the meeting, arguing that it was an abuse of Russia’s power as a permanent member of the UN Security Council. They also objected to Lvova-Belova being given a platform to defend her actions.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US Ambassador to the UN, stated that an expert has been designated to occupy the chair and walk out during the speech of a briefer objected to by the US.
UK ambassador James Kariuki added that the fact that Russia had invited someone indicted by the ICC to address the council “speaks for itself.”
Russia’s Presidency Of The Security Council
Recently, Russia assumed the monthly rotating presidency of the Security Council, which is the most powerful body of the United Nations. The US and Ukraine expressed concern that this would give Russia’s President Vladimir Putin a greater platform to spread disinformation at a crucial time in his ongoing conflict against civilians in Ukraine.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US Ambassador to the UN, confirmed that the US, along with the UK, prevented UN WebTV from being used to allow Russia to have an international platform to spread disinformation and defend its actions in Ukraine. In response, Russia’s ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, criticized the nations boycotting the meeting and accused them of being uninterested in the truth.
Amid allegations of war crimes against Ukrainian children, tensions have heightened between Russia and the international community. Despite Russia’s claims that its actions were motivated by the need to evacuate children from a dangerous war zone, evidence presented to the International Criminal Court suggests otherwise. The controversy surrounding Russia’s presidency of the Security Council has also intensified, with concerns over the potential for disinformation to be spread. As the situation continues, it remains unclear what actions will be taken by the international community, but the controversy is expected to persist.
