Russia prosecuted 59 people in illegally annexed Crimea for refusing to serve in the Russian armed forces, qha.com.ua reports, citing UNN.
“It was established that within the period from April 1, 2015 to July 1, 2018, the occupation authorities prosecuted 35 people for refusing to serve. Currently – 59,” the report said. Reportedly, Russia conscripted more than 17,000 Crimean residents for military service.
Conducting a recruitment campaign among residents of the occupied territories into the army of the occupying state, as well as continuing propaganda of service in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation on the territory of the Crimea, violate Article 51 of the Convention for the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War (Fourth Geneva Convention), and the transfer of called-up Ukrainian citizens from occupied territory to Russian territory violates article 49 of this Convention.
