Custodial settings have become Russia’s target for deportation as they can be easily taken out: report by human rights defenders

Russia deliberately took custodial settings out from the occupied territories of Ukraine (pre-trial detention centers, penal facilities, orphanages, psychiatric hospitals, children’s homes; residential care facilities for the elderly and people with disabilities, etc.) because it is much easier to transfer residents of such institutions from their legal place of stay without obtaining consent. 

Illustrative photo 

This is stated in the report “Deportation of custodial settings from occupied territories of Ukraine” by Human Rights Centre ZMINA. The report covers the period from February 24, 2022 to April 17, 2023. The document is based on information from open sources, as well as on the testimonies of people who suffered or witnessed the crime of deportation and forcible transfer, including managers, employees, and residents of custodial settings. 

As the researchers note, Russia had a deliberate policy toward forcible transfer and deportation given the number of only known similar cases. 

In particular, at least four penal facilities were taken from the occupied territory of Kherson region: Hola Prystan penal facility No. 7, Daryivka penal facility No. 10, Kherson penal facility No. 61, and Pivnichna penal facility No. 90. There is also information available about the displacement of prisoners from Snihurivka penal facility No. 5 from Mykolayiv region through Kherson region (initially to Hola Prystan penal facility No. 7). The probable number of deported prisoners ranges from 2,000 to more than 3,500. 

The intention and systemic nature of the crime of deportation are also evidenced by 

the preparation of institutions in the territory of the Russian Federation for 

the accommodation of such people. The occupying power and Russia repeatedly declared directly the preparation and implementation of forcible transfer and deportation of child care facilities, and the facts of residence of children from specialized institutions of the occupied territories in Crimea and Russia were made public in open sources. 

“The biggest concern is the displacement of minor residents, given the damage it causes to their development and their lack of awareness of the crime committed against them: Russia deprives them of the opportunity to grow and develop in their native environment, to be returned to their relatives, erasing their national identity,” reads the report. 

In addition, in the context of the displacement of child care facilities, such actions of Russia have the characteristics of the crime of genocide in terms of the transfer of children from one national group to another. 

Read more about the report at the link.