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President, Honourable Members, 

Only 3 months ago, the European Parliament was debating the violation of international law and human rights of children from Ukraine forcibly transferred or deported to Russia. Today, we are alarmed with the situation of two teenagers from the city of Berdiansk who face 10 to 20 years in prison for having reportedly tried to sabotage the railway to prevent the Russian armed forces from receiving material supplies. The reports of them being arbitrarily detained and tortured are appalling. We know that the chance for a fair trial in a territory that is temporarily occupied by Russia is next to zero. 

For us it is clear: charges against these teenage boys must be dropped. Those who need to be brought to justice are those responsible for the war crimes committed against Ukrainians by the Russian forces and so-called “authorities” that Russia has imposed in territories it occupies. 

We will continue to push for accountability for human rights violations and violations against international law. I remind in this context that Russia and Ukraine for that matter, have ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The rights of these two boys are thus blatantly violated. As the honourable members of this Parliament have already discussed there have been other blatant violations with the forced transfer or deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia. 

The European Union has imposed sanctions against 16 individuals responsible for the deportation and forced adoption of Ukrainian children, including the Russian Commissioner for Children’s Rights, Ms. Lvova-Belova, and is ready to continue imposing sanctions. The EU strongly supports measures to ensure accountability, including the investigations of the International Criminal Court and the Ukrainian prosecutor general.  

The European Union is committed to strengthen human rights and promote democracy around the world. The European Union continues to urge Russia to stop its war of aggression against Ukraine and immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all its troops and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders. The European Union will continue its steadfast support to Ukraine, to ensure Ukraine wins the war, wins the peace and wins in Court.  

Link to the video (starting at 17:24): https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-242367