OSCE Sounds 'Alarm' on Alleged Mistreatment of Those at Ukraine 'Filtration Centres' Set Up By Russia

A report by the world’s largest security body on Thursday expressed “grave concern” about  alleged mistreatment of tens of thousands of Ukrainians at so-called filtration centres set up by Russia in Ukraine.

“There are reports indicating that people are subject to harsh interrogations and humiliating body searches in such centres,” said the 115-page report seen by AFP, calling the setting up of such centres an “alarming” development.

It added those found to have collaborated with Kyiv “often simply disappear” with some being allegedly transferred to Russian controlled territories, where they are detained or even murdered.

The report is based on a mission of three experts named by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) covering the Ukraine war from April 1 to June 25.

It was the second OSCE mission following a similar one covering the period from the invasion on February 24 to April 1.

The previous mission already found “clear patterns of international humanitarian law violations”.

The second mission likewise found “grave breaches of international humanitarian law”, particularly in the towns of Bucha and Irpin, which it visited.

“Signs of torture and ill-treatment on the corpses of killed civilians also show disregard of the principle of humanity,” it said.

The report said targeted killing, rape, abductions and massive deportations of civilians had been repeatedly documented during the conflict.

“The second mission is… gravely concerned by the mistreatment to which Ukrainian civilians are purportedly subject in the so-called filtration centres,” the report noted.

Tens of thousands of civilians are brought to these centres in the breakaway Donetsk People’s Republic in eastern Ukraine before being deported to Russia, according to Kyiv and  humanitarian organizations, the report said.

There their personal data is recorded, their fingerprints taken and their IDs copied, it added.

According to Yevhenii Tsymbaliuk, Ukraine’s ambassador to the OSCE, there are around 20 such facilities on the territories occupied by Russia, the report said.

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