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Statement on behalf of the Baltic States at the United Nations Security Council meeting “Maintenance of peace and security of Ukraine” on Wednesday, 7 September 2022.

Mister President,

I am speaking on behalf of the three Baltic States – Estonia, Lithuania and my own country, Latvia. We welcome this meeting on forcible transfer or deportations of civilians in Ukraine. We thank the Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo and Assistant Secretary General Brands – Kehris for their presentations.

For almost 200 days Russia, aided by Belarus, continues this cruel and brutal war of aggression in blatant violation of international law – by violating Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and by terrorizing and committing atrocities against civilians.

We have repeatedly underlined that Russia started this war and only Russia can end it by completely and unconditionally withdrawing all its troops from Ukraine’s internationally recognized territory, as well as by implementing with immediate effect the provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice and complying with UNGA resolutions of 2 and 24 March 2022.

As per the latest report of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, a total of more than 5 718 civilian deaths are documented in Ukraine, underlining that the OHCHR believes that the actual figures are considerably higher. Moreover, the number of dead and injured civilians is growing every day since new crimes against civilians are discovered and new attacks on civilians are executed regularly by the Russian military.

Mister President,

We call on Russia to immediately stop violating international humanitarian law and human rights of people in Ukraine. We strongly condemn the forced passportization and conscription to the Russian armed forces of citizens of Ukraine, who live in the temporarily occupied territories. We strongly condemn deportation of Ukrainian civilians to Russia, forcibly transferring of children, illegal adoption of Ukrainian children as well as abduction of civilians, including mayors and other democratically elected representatives, journalists and activists.

According to various credible government, non-governmental and international organization reports, Russia has forcibly transferred over 1.7 million Ukrainians to Russia, including over 240 000 children. Russia’s forces have set up almost 20 so called filtration camps or centers in temporarily controlled Ukraine’s territory. Ukrainians, who have endured these camps have reported treatment ranging from humiliation to verbal abuse and physical torture, including strip searches, confiscation and search through their electronic devises, use of electric shocks and even staged mock executions of detainees. Such vulnerable groups as women, children, orphans and elderly have suffered the most.

There is clear and undeniable evidence that Russia is deporting Ukrainian civilians. Even Russia itself has admitted to forcibly transferring Ukrainian civilians. In May, a Russian official acknowledged[1] that “1,426,979 people, of which 238,329 are children,” had been “evacuated from dangerous areas of the republics of Donbas and Ukraine to the territory of the Russian Federation.”

We would like to recall that the former High Commissioner for Human Rights at the United Nations told the Human Rights Council that her office is looking into allegations that children in orphanages[2] had been taken to Russia, and we look forward to receiving an update from the Office soon.

We call on international human rights organizations to continue documenting cases of forcible transfer of Ukrainian citizens, providing regular and public reports about their findings. Similar to the fact-finding mission regarding the massacre of Ukrainian soldiers in Olenivka[3], we call on the UN to establish a fact-finding mission to document deportation of Ukrainian citizens.

Mister President,

Make no mistake, Russia’s warfare against the civilian population of Ukraine is not a coincidence or collateral damage. It is a deliberate and consistent approach throughout Russia’s continued aggression aimed at breaking the resistance and spirit of Ukrainian people.  Unable to defeat Ukraine in the battlefield Russia’s military seeks to achieve its aims by terrorizing Ukraine’s civilian population.  

This is the high time for the international community to demonstrate that the norms aimed at protection of civilians, are not empty statements that can be trampled down by dictators and bullies, but ironclad obligations, which we are collectively determined to uphold.

We must ensure accountability on all levels for atrocities committed against Ukraine and its people, including deportations. It is of utmost importance to continue to provide all necessary support in this regard.

Justice must prevail, the perpetrators must and will be held accountable.

I thank you.