UN spox: 90% of Ukrainian prisoners tried in Russian courts face terrorism charges; 438 have died in captivity

Mariana Katzarova, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Russia, made this statement in an interview with Ukrinform . She noted that 438 Ukrainians have died in Russian captivity, and the torture of detainees remains a systemic practice fueled by impunity. According to her, the Russian authorities have designated the Azov Battalion as a terrorist organization, and its fighters—despite their status as prisoners of war—are being tried as terrorists. “This applies to most Ukrainian detainees in Russia who are brought before courts, including military courts. Perhaps 90 percent of them are prosecuted on terrorism-related charges rather than for their participation in hostilities,” Katzarova noted.