SBU serves Ramzan Kadyrov suspicion notice in absentia for war crimes against Ukrainian prisoners of war
1 September 18:14
The Security Service of Ukraine has announced a new suspicion in absentia against the head of the Chechen Republic of Russia, Ramzan Kadyrov, reports "Komersant Ukrainian".
He is accused of violating international humanitarian law, in particular, of issuing orders that provide for the use of Ukrainian prisoners of war as human shields to cover Russian military facilities.
The essence of the charges
According to the investigation, Kadyrov:
Publicly stated that he had ordered his militants not to take Ukrainian soldiers prisoner, but to shoot them on the spot.
Ordered to place Ukrainian prisoners on the roofs of military facilities in Grozny to use them as a “human shield” against attacks by Ukrainian drones.
He passed these orders on to the commanders of Chechen combat units participating in the war against Ukraine as part of the Russian occupation forces.
Legal qualification
The SBU classified Kadyrov’s actions as:
- Violation of the laws and customs of war governed by the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
- War crime under Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – cruel treatment of prisoners of war.
Context and previous actions
- In August 2022, the SBU already qualified Kadyrov’s actions as preparation and conduct of an aggressive war, its justification and encroachment on the territorial integrity of Ukraine.
- The investigation is conducted under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor General’s Office.
- Ukrainian law enforcement agencies continue to take comprehensive measures to bring Kadyrov to justice for crimes against the state and its citizens.
