Lubinets on UN’s decision to disband mission into Olenivka attack: We saw UN’s intermediary and neutral position

07.01.2023 22:56

Ukrinform

The United Nations did not even condemn Russia, which did everything possible to prevent the UN mission from visiting occupied Olenivka to investigate the prison attack that occurred on the night of July 29 and killed more than 50 Ukrainian defenders.

"Unfortunately, we saw UN’s intermediary and neutral position once again. There was not a single word of condemnation of the Russian side which did everything possible to prevent this international mission from going there," Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets said during the nationwide news telethon.

He noted that he was skeptical about the mission from the very beginning.

"First of all, I analyzed the composition of this mission and indicated that all three people [mission members] have a very positive attitude towards the Russian Federation, and this is already unacceptable. Second, I asked how do they want to get there? Did the Russian Federation give permission for this? No, it did not," Lubinets said.

The Ombudsman noted that after the mission had been created, the Ukrainian authorities were sending official requests to the UN to clarify what was happening to the mission for months. Lubinets informed that he, as the Ombudsman of Ukraine, put forward the initiative to at least meet with them online.

According to Lubinets, he was ready to go to this meeting with the evidence of what happened in Olenivka, to present it so that at least some work could be launched.

"Ukraine publicly said that we are ready to contribute, to create all the conditions, please come. But five months passed and nothing happened. We found out from the Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General that he [UN Secretary-General António Guterres] decided to disband this mission. But if it has already been created, then do some work at least. And if you did not receive security guarantees, then say publicly that the Russian Federation did not let you in and that you condemn it," he said.

As reported, on the night of July 29, 2022, a powerful explosion occurred in the building where Ukrainian prisoners of war were held in the territory of the former penal facility No. 210 in Olenivka, temporarily occupied territory of Donetsk region. According to the Russian side, about 50 Ukrainian defenders were killed and more than 70 were seriously injured.

On January 6, Lubinets said that the UN disbanded the fact-finding mission into the Olenivka prison attack.