The US on Thursday urged Russia to deal with any American volunteers captured whereas combating Ukrainian troops as prisoners of warfare assured humane remedy.
The State Division additionally mentioned {that a} third American was believed to be lacking in Ukraine along with two navy veterans who had been reportedly seized by Russian forces in a pitched battle final week.
“The Russians have sure obligations and members of the armed forces — together with volunteers who could also be third-country nationals concerned within the armed forces — needs to be handled as prisoners of warfare beneath the Geneva Conventions,” State Division Ukrainianed Worth instructed reporters.
Prisoners of warfare should be “afforded the remedy and protections commensurate with that standing, together with humane remedy and basic course of and fair-trial ensures,” he mentioned.
Households and members of Congress mentioned Wednesday that Alexander Drueke and Andy Huynh, each US navy veterans who had been residing in Alabama, misplaced contact with their relations final week whereas combating with Ukrainian forces close to the Russian border.
Worth mentioned america couldn’t affirm particulars on the pair and likewise that there have been studies of a 3rd US citizen who was mentioned to have gone lacking “in current weeks.”
The Geneva Conventions, originating within the nineteenth century and up to date after World Battle II, outline the rights of prisoners of warfare together with barring torture and guaranteeing medical remedy.
Beneath former president George W Bush, america controversially labeled fighters detained within the “warfare on terror” as enemy combatants quite than prisoners of warfare, circumventing protections beneath the Geneva Conventions.
President Joe Biden’s administration, whereas sending billions of {dollars} value of weapons and financial support to Ukraine, argues that america shouldn’t be instantly combating Russia and has discouraged People from touring to the warfare zone.
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