Russia are preparing metal cages to ‘restrain prisoners of war during’ the court ‘proceedings’ in Mariupol

The Kremlin affiliated armed groups in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region will try Ukrainian prisoners of war and metal caged have emerged in Mariupol.

The United Nations rights office has said it is “concerned” following the reports of the images appearing on social media.

The metal cages are being built at the philharmonic hall in the southern port city of Mariupol, which are designed to “restrain prisoners of war during” the court “proceedings,” the UN high commissioner for human rights said in a statement.

Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said, “We recall that international humanitarian law prohibits the establishment of courts solely to judge prisoners of war and that wilfully depriving a prisoner of war of the rights of fair and regular trial amounts to a war crime.

“We are furthermore concerned that prisoners of war have generally been held without access to independent monitors, exposing them to the risk of being tortured to extract a confession.

Three countries confirmed their participation in Mariupol "tribunal" for Ukrainian POWs: Russia, Belarus and Syria.

North Korea hasn't confirmed its participation yet, – Pushilin, "head" of «DPR»

Source: MariupolNow/Telegram #RussiaIsATerroristState pic.twitter.com/LFblpVG97f

— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) August 21, 2022

“There have also been worrying public statements by Russian officials and members of affiliated armed groups labelling Ukrainian prisoners of war as ‘war criminals,’ ‘Nazis,’ and ‘terrorists,’ thereby  undermining the presumption of innocence.

“We reiterate our calls to the Russian Federation to grant independent monitors full access to all individuals detained in relation to the armed conflict in Ukraine, by the Russian Federation, including those held by Russian-affiliated armed groups.”