ISW: Russia limits birth rate in occupied Luhansk region - genocide alleged
Photo: Russia’s actions in the occupied Luhansk region are considered genocide (Getty Images)
Russian occupiers are limiting childbirth in the occupied Luhansk region. This violates the Genocide Convention, reports the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
As reported by Artem Lysohor, the head of the Luhansk Regional Military Administration, Russian occupiers are threatening to take newborns from mothers in hospitals in the occupied Luhansk region if neither parent can prove Russian citizenship.
The new measure will take effect on May 6. Now, to take a baby from a maternity ward, parents must show a Russian passport.
ISW analysts note that if this report is true, such actions violate Article II(d) of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, which defines genocide as “imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group.”
The report also states that the occupying authorities of the Luhansk region continue efforts to militarize Ukrainian youth. In the so-called “LNR,” it was announced on May 1 that a new textbook on the “modern history” of the Luhansk region is being developed, which will correspond to Russian education standards.
The same is happening in the occupied part of the Zaporizhzhia region. Occupation official Volodymyr Rohov stated on May 2 that 200 children took part in military-patriotic games of Russian youth organizations Movement of the First’s and Yunarmiya in Berdiansk and Melitopol.
Genocide of the Ukrainian people
It is worth noting that the artificial famine (Holodomor) organized by the Soviet government in 1932-1933 in Ukraine was recognized as genocide of the Ukrainian people by the Verkhovna Rada in 2006.
After the start of full-scale Russian aggression, a number of countries recognized the Holodomor as genocide. These include Germany, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, France, Bulgaria, Romania, and others.
Ukrainian law enforcement agencies are also investigating a major case of genocide. The case concerns crimes committed by Russian forces in the occupied territories of Ukraine.