Council of Europe. Illustrative image from open sources
The Register of Damages Caused by the Russian Federation’s Aggression Against Ukraine operates under the framework of the Council of Europe. The resolution of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe calls for creating all necessary mechanisms to ensure that victims receive fair compensation.
Tetyana Pechonchyk, head of the board of the ZMINA Center for Human Rights, discussed this on Hromadske Radio.
The damage register serves as a mechanism through which victims of Russia’s actions can receive compensation and real satisfaction. These include the victims of torture, ill-treatment, detention, and enforced disappearances. This is a new mechanism, which only began its formation process this year.
«Within the framework of the Council of Europe, the damage register has become operational. It’s an important mechanism through which victims of enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions, torture, and cruel treatment by Russia may later receive compensation and fair satisfaction. This mechanism is new and only started taking shape this year», — Tetyana Pechonchyk explained.
Victims of Russian captivity and torture can submit their claims to the Register of Damages. A collection of claims against the Russian Federation is expected to accumulate in the register. Eventually, these individuals will be able to receive fair compensation for the suffering caused by Russia’s actions.
The resolution of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe urges the creation of all necessary opportunities for this to happen.
«In fact, this resolution also calls for all opportunities to be created within this mechanism, so that victims of captivity and torture can submit their claims. This accumulation of claims against the Russian Federation will ensure that these individuals later receive fair compensation for the suffering they endured», — Tetyana Pechonchyk emphasized.
It is worth recalling that the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted the special resolution. It is titled «Missing Persons, Prisoners of War, and Civilian Prisoners as a Result of the Aggression of the Russian Federation Against Ukraine.»
The PACE resolution calls for creating new mechanisms and formats to facilitate the return of deported Ukrainians. These also include prisoners of war, and civilian detainees. Specifically, there should be a permanent mechanism for exchanges and releases. It should be mediated by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
«The resolution also calls for the creation of new mechanisms and formats that haven’t existed before, to pursue the return of deported Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilian detainees. For example, there should be a permanent mechanism for exchanges and releases with the mediation of the ICRC», — explained Tetyana Pechonchyk.
The PACE resolution also advocates for increased Interpol activity, as it can assist in locating and arresting war criminals responsible for crimes during the full-scale invasion, who are now in other countries.
«This resolution also urges a more active role for Interpol in searching for and arresting war criminals who committed crimes during the full-scale invasion and may now be in other countries», — Tetyana Pechonchyk added.