The occupiers want to hold a sham "trial" in Mariupol on Independence Day – the mayor

VALENTYNA ROMANENKO – THURSDAY, 11 AUGUST 2022, 12:21

Vadym Boichenko, the mayor of Mariupol, says that the Russian invaders are preparing a sham "trial" of Ukrainian prisoners of war in Mariupol on 24 August [Ukraine’s Independence Day].

Source: Boichenko at a briefing at the Ukraine - Ukrinform media centre on 11 August

Quote from Boichenko: "Our jewel (the Philharmonic Hall - ed.), where only cultural events usually take place, is being turned into the site of a "performance" they are calling a "trial" of our prisoners of war, of whom, unfortunately, there are many in the prisons that the occupiers have created around Mariupol.

More than 10,000, many of them military personnel, are in prison. And the invaders want to hold their sham gathering in Mariupol on our holiday, Independence Day."

Details: According to the mayor, the occupiers are preparing this shameful event for 24 August, but are also considering other dates.

As for the probable reasons for this plan, Boichenko noted that Russia wants to show at least some "achievements", namely, a victory over the prisoners of war, given the lack of victories by the Russian Federation on the front. 

However, such acts constitute a war crime, the mayor emphasised, because an agreement was made with representatives of the Red Cross and the UN that the prisoners who laid down their arms would go only to Ukraine, that is, they would not be prosecuted. Yet the invaders are flouting the agreements reached.

The second goal of the occupiers, according to Boichenko, is to frighten other heroes who are defending Ukraine today.

Previously: On 6 August, the Mariupol City Council reported that the occupiers had started installing prison cages on the stage of the city’s Philharmonic Hall in order to conduct a sham trial of Ukrainian prisoners of war in September.

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