**Georgia and 40 Other OSCE Countries Call for Investigation into Alleged Torture of Ukrainian POWs by Russia**
In a joint statement, Georgia and 40 other participating countries in the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) have invoked the Moscow Mechanism to investigate alleged torture, ill-treatment, and execution of Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) by Russia. This move comes as a response to “grave concern” over credible reports that suggest a widespread and systematic pattern of abuse amounting to possible war crimes and crimes against humanity.
**What is the Moscow Mechanism?**
The Moscow Mechanism is a part of the OSCE’s human dimension framework, which allows participating countries to establish an expert mission to investigate serious human rights violations in any member country, even without the consent of the state in question. This mechanism has been invoked four times since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022.
**Call for Investigation**
The invoking countries have requested the launch of an expert mission to build upon previous findings and establish the facts surrounding possible contraventions of OSCE commitments, international human rights law, and international humanitarian law. The letter specifically highlights the reported executions of Ukrainian POWs and soldiers rendered hours de combat upon their surrender, as well as the desecration and mutilation of bodies.
**Pattern of Torture**
The countries have noted that torture follows common patterns across different locations, indicating it is a coordinated, deliberate, and systematic practice. This finding is consistent with reports from multiple international and civil society organizations.
**Georgia’s Decision to Invoke Moscow Mechanism**
Georgia’s decision to invoke the Moscow Mechanism once again comes amid deteriorating bilateral ties between Georgia and Russia. Despite the Georgian Dream government’s continued support for Ukraine, tensions have increased between the two countries. At least 67 Georgian citizens have died while fighting in Ukraine since 2022.
**What’s Next?**
The invoking countries are calling for consolidating evidence of widespread and systematic torture, ill-treatment, and executions, and recommending that any findings be shared with relevant accountability mechanisms, including international courts and UN bodies. This move is a significant step towards holding Russia accountable for alleged human rights violations in Ukraine.
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