Abductions of local authorities and activists and attempts at intimidation continue in the territories occupied by Russian troops, according to Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Lyudmila Denisova.
"Currently, the first deputy mayor of Energodar in Zaporizhzhia region, Ivan Samoydiuk, has been kidnapped. Armed Russian soldiers detained him at a roadblock at the entrance to the city and took him away in an unknown direction," Denisova wrote on her Telegram channel.
In addition, the occupiers began physical, psychological pressure on the residents of Energodar, who are active in their public activities. They continue to seek out those Energodar residents, in whose principled position they see a threat. According to preliminary information, over the past two days the Russians detained at least 12 local patriots, who were intimidated, taken out of town, tortured and humiliated.
In Berdyansk, several dozen demonstrators were detained during a peaceful pro-Ukrainian rally. Their whereabouts are currently unknown
In Mariupol, when leaving the city, men are forced to undress and checked for patriotic tattoos.
"The abduction, illegal detention and humiliating and cruel treatment of the population of the occupied territories are a violation of Articles 3 and 34 of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War and Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. I appeal to international partners to strengthen sanctions pressure and isolation of the aggressor state of the Russian Federation by all possible means to release Ukrainian hostages and withdraw troops from the entire territory of our state," Denisova urged.
