OSCE Launches ‘Moscow Mechanism’ to Investigate Russia’s Abuse of Ukrainian POWs
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has triggered the “Moscow Mechanism” to investigate Russia’s treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war, following a joint initiative by 41 member states, The Gaze reports, citing Ukrinform.
At the OSCE Permanent Council meeting on Thursday, Neil Holland, the UK’s Permanent Representative to the OSCE, read a joint statement supported by 41 participating states invoking the mechanism. The move comes amid ongoing concerns over Russia’s violations of international humanitarian and human rights law during its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
“Today, our delegations will send a letter to ODIHR Director Maria Telalian invoking the ‘Moscow Mechanism,’ with Ukraine’s support,” Holland announced.
“We remain deeply concerned by the abuse of Ukrainian POWs and other violations committed in the context of Russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine.”
The statement cited findings from past international expert missions indicating that some of the abuses may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The group issued a joint call to the Russian Federation to immediately cease torture and inhumane treatment of all detainees, ensure humane conditions — including access to food, water, clothing, and medical care — and to provide timely and accurate information about their location and legal status.
“We also urge Russia to grant unhindered access to detainees by international humanitarian organizations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross,” Holland added.
The statement called on the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) to request an invitation from Ukraine for a mission of independent experts.
The goal: to establish facts and circumstances of potential violations of OSCE commitments, human rights abuses, and breaches of international humanitarian law — particularly in the treatment of Ukrainian POWs by Russia.
The declaration was delivered on behalf of the following countries: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
The Moscow Mechanism is a special OSCE procedure established by the 1991 Moscow Document. It allows a group of ten or more participating states to establish a fact-finding mission of independent experts to investigate grave human rights violations in a member country.
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