The USA is imposing new anti-Russian sanctions against those who are guilty of forced transfers of Ukrainians and deportations.
This was reported by US President Joe Biden in his congratulations on the Independence Day of Ukraine. However, he did not name the people who will be subject to restrictions.
"These children were kidnapped from their parents and are being kept apart from their families. It is unacceptable. And today we are announcing new sanctions to bring to justice those responsible for these forced displacements and deportations, as well as demand the return of Ukrainian children to their families," the American president said.
In the list:
- International Childrenʼs Center "Artek";
- Vladimir Kovalenko — the chief of staff of the All-Russian childrenʼs and youth patriotic social movement "Yunarmiya";
- Galina Pyatikh — the adviser to the governor of Belgorod region, commissioner for childrenʼs rights in Belgorod region;
- Irina Ageyeva — the commissioner for childrenʼs rights in the Kaluga region of the Russian Federation;
- Irina Cherkasova —the commissioner for childrenʼs rights in the city of Rostov.
- Mansur Soltaev — the commissioner for human rights in the Chechen Republic;
- Olena Shapurova — the Russian-appointed "Minister of Education and Science" in the Russian-controlled areas of the Zaporizhzhia region in Ukraine;
- Akhmat Kadyrov Foundation.
The sanctions concern people who contributed to the forced transfer of Ukrainian children to "summer camps" on the territory of Russia and in the occupied territories, where they were tried to be re-educated. Sanctions will also affect those who are engaged in Russification through the creation and use of educational programs in the Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine.
- The deportation of Ukrainian children is one of Russiaʼs war crimes, for which Putin and the Childrenʼs Ombudsman of the Russian Federation Maria Lvova-Belova received an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court. Currently, at least 19 453 Ukrainian children are known to have been forcibly deported to Russia. Ukraine also has evidence that Belarus participates in the deportation of Ukrainian children.
- On April 27, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) recognized the deportation and forcible transfer of Ukrainian children to the territory of Russia as genocide. PACE called on the International Criminal Court to consider the possibility of criminal prosecution for this crime.