OSCE activates Moscow mechanism to investigate Russian hostages: what is it about?

The member states of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) have activated the so-called Moscow Mechanism to investigate Russia's arbitrary detention of Ukrainian civilians in the temporarily occupied territories. This is the first international mechanism involved in this issue.

This was announced by Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on the social network X. Activation of the mechanism will help determine the true scale of this crime.

"During this war, Russia has taken thousands of Ukrainian civilians hostage in the temporarily occupied territories. They are the most vulnerable group that is not noticed at the international level," the minister said.

Kuleba expects that the activation of the Moscow Mechanism will help "determine the true scale of this crime and establish the facts."

Earlier, the Foreign Minister called on the OSCE, the UN, and other organizations to use all available and, if necessary, create new tools to solve the problem of Ukrainian civilian hostages and facilitate their release.

"We will continue to make every effort to release them all. I am grateful to our partners for their strong support in this matter. Every Russian crime must be investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice," the diplomat added.

For reference

The "Moscow Mechanism" is a formal procedure established within the OSCE that allows for the deployment of a short-term international fact-finding mission to address a specific human rights issue in an OSCE region. "It is called "Moscow" because it was adopted during a meeting of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe held in Moscow in 1991.

How does it work? The Moscow Mechanism consists in the establishment of a short-term fact-finding mission in accordance with the formulated tasks. The members of such a mission are selected from a list of experts compiled by the OSCE based on submissions from participating states. The final result of the Moscow Mechanism is a mission report on specific issues and recommendations for their resolution. The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights in Warsaw is responsible for the mission's activities.

As OBOZ.UA previously reported, every war criminal and all those involved in the forced deportation of Ukrainians must be held accountable for their illegal actions. Those who abuse our prisoners must also be held accountable. This was stated by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi during his address to the participants of the International Platform for the Release of Civilians Illegally Detained by the Russian Federation.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!