ZMINA Human Rights Center addressed Ukrainian citizens, residents of Russian-occupied territories, and explained what to do in the event that the Russian military tries to "mobilize" them for the war against Ukraine.
This was reported by the press service of the Center.
Human rights activists stressed that all residents of the temporarily occupied territories of Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk regions are citizens of Ukraine under Ukrainian law (even if they were forced to receive an illegal Russian passport).
"If you were forced to join the Russian armed forces or illegal armed groups affiliated with them, you will be treated by Ukraine as victims of Russian war crimes. Those responsible for these actions will face criminal liability under Article 438 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code (10-15 years behind bars) in Ukrainian courts or before the International Criminal Court for violations under Article 8-2(b) XV of the Rome Statute," the Center explained.
Human rights activists urge to sabotage military service in the forces of the aggressor:
Personally avoid receiving draft summonses and calls from the occupational military authorities;
Change your phone number or temporarily stop using it;
Temporarily change your place of residence and avoid disclosing;
If you do get contacted, don't outright refuse to do your "military duty," but give reasons why you can't serve. The list of reasons can be found here.
If the invaders do "mobilize" you:
As soon as you get into Ukrainian-controlled territory (encounter the Ukrainian army), surrender at the first opportunity and reveal that you are a Ukrainian citizen from Crimea, Donetsk, orLuhansk regions (even if you do not have documents with you to confirm this, we will establish this). Then, Ukraine will consider you only as a victim of a war crime and you can safely return home alive later on.
Do not follow illegal orders, do not shoot civilians and civilian targets. If you do, such actions will qualify as crimes without statute of limitations and sooner or later you will have to answer in court.
"If you voluntarily join the armed forces of the Russian Federation and participate in the war with Ukraine, such participation will be considered a crime under the national legislation of Ukraine with a penalty of up to 15 years of imprisonment. If you hold a position of command, be prepared to answer to the International Criminal Court (The Hague)," human rights activists stressed.
The Human Rights Center ZMINA asks to distribute this memo among the citizens of Ukraine on the occupied territories.
If you are aware of the facts of forced conscription in the temporarily occupied Crimea, the Representative Office of the President of Ukraine of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea asks you to send this information in private messages on its Facebook page or by e-mail: [email protected].
Earlier, Lieutenant General Valeriy Zaluzhnyy, commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, reported that the Russian military leadership has conducted mobilization in the occupied territories of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions and is forming units in the 1st and 2nd army corps to assault Ukrainian-controlled settlements.
Recently, the defenders of Ukraine captured a group of representatives of Russian armed forces who turned out to be mobilized residents of the occupied Donbas, including plumbers, teachers, and social workers.