12 children and their families returned from the occupied territories of Ukraine. They spoke about forced passportization, rights restrictions and torture in the TOT, and that it was the feeling of disenfranchisement, the realization of what the future holds for children that prompted them to leave. This was reported on Friday by the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets, UNN reports.
We managed to return 12 Ukrainian children to their homeland! The children and their families lived in the TOT - in Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. Fortunately, they are now on the territory controlled by Ukraine. Each family has experienced the chaos caused by the occupation "authorities" in their own way
According to him, "families tell how they were forced to take Russian passports, because without the ‘new documents’ citizens have no rights and could not enjoy any social guarantees or medical care." "Doctors do not even accept children with birth defects who need careful attention. However, parents are offered to send their children for 'rehabilitation', which is often deportation or forced displacement. Some children had to attend "Russian schools" where they actively campaigned for the "Russian world," the Ombudsman shared his stories.
"According to the returnees, the Russians on the TOT detain, beat, torture with electricity, exert psychological pressure on adults, and interrogate children without their parents' presence and use torture methods. They also regularly conduct unreasonable searches in the homes of local residents," Lubinets said.
He noted that he was impressed by the story of a returned boy who, planning his future, left the TOT, "because he wants to become a Ukrainian savior and get an education in a dream higher education institution.
"It was the feeling of disenfranchisement, limitation, and the realization of what the future holds for children that prompted the families to leave for the government-controlled territory," the Ombudsman said.
The families, he said, have already visited our Child Protection Center. They were interviewed by a competent multifunctional team that recorded the crimes they witnessed or were victims of, he added.
"Ukraine is always ready for the return of everyone and will provide basic humanitarian, medical, psychological, social and other necessary assistance," emphasized Lubinets.
З окупації повернули ще двох українських дітей17.07.24, 13:44