Thousands of civilians have been killed and millions displaced since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24. Russian soldiers are accused for being behind serious war crimesincluding in Mariupol and Butsja – but also Ukrainians may have violated the Geneva Convention.
Now shows a photo taken by AP journalist Felipe Dana what are supposed to be dead Russian soldiers who have been tampered with and placed in a “Z” formation on the outskirts of Kharkiv.
The letter has become a symbol of Russia’s propaganda, invasion and warfare in the country.
– I can not say with certainty that it is a war crime, but it can be, says the Swedish international law expert Mark Klamberg to Dagbladet.
He is a professor at the University of Stockholm and points out that the Swedish Supreme Court has previously ruled that the dead fall into the category of the Geneva Convention for persons who are to be protected in war – and thus not exposed to violations.
Investigating “torture chamber” and charred corpses
– Can be punishable
The soldiers were found on a front line where fighting had taken place a few days before, and are now said to have been transported to a nearby morgue, writes AP.
– This looks like a desecration, which in itself is not a war crime, unless it is a matter of mutilation or mutilation, says Camilla Cooper to Dagbladet.
She is an associate professor of operational law at the Norwegian Defense College and emphasizes that it is unclear who is behind it.
– Are there Russian forces that have done this themselves, or are there Ukrainians? she asks.
Nevertheless:
– This may be a criminal offense under national law, as most criminal laws prohibit coronation and national laws also deal with violations of international law of war that are not of such a serious degree that it constitutes a war crime.
