'DPR' authorities confirm 'tribunal' on Ukrainian POWs will be held in Mariupol

Head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk “people's republic” (“DPR”) Denis Pushilin has announced in an interview with Russian state channel Rossiya-1 that the preparations for a “tribunal” on Ukrainian prisoners of war are being carried out in Mariupol.

“The preparations for the tribunal are going according to our plans. The tribunals are inevitable. One of the first tribunals will be held in Mariupol. The preparations are being made on all fronts; we are making sure there are enough facilities [to hold the tribunals] and are preparing an evidence base,” Pushilin said.

On 6 August, the Mariupol city council reported that representatives of the Russian occupation “government” had started to build prison cells out of rebar on the stage of the Mariupol Philharmonic Society so that they could hold a “show trial” on the prisoners of war of Ukraine's Armed Forces.

Mayor of Mariupol Vadym Boychenko asked the world community, the United Nations, and Red Cross to intervene in the situation and ensure that the rights of Ukrainian POWs would be respected.

“Russian occupants continue to ignore all international norms. They continue to multiplicate their war crimes, showing disregard towards the entire civilised world. We have to do everything in our power so that our defenders come back to Ukraine alive and Mariupol doesn't become a second Olenivka,” said Boychenko.