During the Russian occupation of the Kharkiv region, citizens of Sri Lanka suffered. According to the foreigners, they were held captive by the Russians, where they were beaten. This is reported by the General Prosecutor's Office.
"Under the procedural guidance of the Chuguyiv district prosecutor's office of Kharkiv region, a pre-trial investigation has been started in criminal proceedings on the fact of violation of the laws and customs of war (Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine)," the message says.
According to the investigation, Sri Lankan citizens studied at the medical college in Kupyansk before the start of the full-scale invasion of Russia on the territory of Ukraine. They lived in the city together with their relatives. Escaping the occupation, in March 2022, seven Sri Lankan citizens walked to Kharkiv, but were detained by the Russian military on the way. The occupiers took the foreigners to the aggregate plant in Vovchansk, placed them in cells and held them for 4 months.
All this time, the military of the Russian Federation mocked people: they pulled out their nails, subjected them to physical and psychological violence.
Employees of the prosecutor's office and the police found the foreigners and provided them with housing and food.