Russia discusses access to prisoners of war with the International Committee of the Red Cross

Russia announced on Thursday that the International Committee of the Red Cross had obtained permission to visit the Olinivka prison, where dozens of Ukrainian prisoners of war died in mysterious circumstances in July, but the security situation prevented such visits.

Since last week, Kyiv has accused the International Committee of the Red Cross of "inaction" towards the Ukrainian prisoners held by Russia, stressing that the absence of visits exposes them to the risk of torture.

For its part, the International Committee of the Red Cross confirmed that it shares the frustration of the Ukrainian authorities, explaining that this visit was only possible with permission and security guarantees.

The organization urged both sides to facilitate access to prisoners of war, and was particularly concerned about the lack of access to the Russian-controlled Olynyivka prison in eastern Ukraine.

The two sides exchange accusations over responsibility for the deaths that occurred there at the end of July.

The United Nations has warned of the catastrophic health conditions for those still in the building.

For his part, the Russian ambassador to Geneva, Gennady Gatilov, confirmed today, Thursday, that the Russian Defense Ministry had allowed the visit of the International Committee of the Red Cross to Olinivka on August 4.

"They have been given the green light," he said in a rare press briefing organized by the United Nations Correspondents Association in Geneva, but noted that the situation was "in the process of changing from a military point of view."

"It is not easy to secure the kind of security" that the International Committee of the Red Cross requires, "because the bombing continues," he added.

"From a security point of view, this situation does not allow for a similar visit to Olinevka," he noted.

However, Gatilov stated that he had discussed access to prisoners of war with the new head of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Mirjana Spolyaric Egger.

He said Russia was taking a "constructive attitude" and had allowed five or six visits to Ukrainian prisoners of war in its custody in recent months.

Discussions are underway to allow more visits.

Gatilov pointed out that "we have more than six thousand Ukrainian prisoners, and sometimes it is not possible to organize all the visits," rejecting accusations that prisoners of war held by Russia are being mistreated.

He accused Ukraine of "torturing" Russian citizens captured since the start of the war in Ukraine on February 24.

The Geneva Conventions obligate all parties to armed conflict to allow the ICRC access to all prisoners of war to assess their situation.

The organization does not disclose its findings publicly, but it strives to work with various parties to improve the living conditions of prisoners.

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