Occupiers urge schoolchildren in Crimea to join Russian army on 1 September

IRYNA BALACHUK – FRIDAY, 2 SEPTEMBER, 14:19

Schoolchildren in occupied Crimea were encouraged on 1 September to join the ranks of the Russian army, which breaches a number of norms of international law.

Source: [Ukrainian NGO and human rights protection group] KrymSOS, referring to Oleksii Tilnenko, the head of the organisation's board

Quote from Tilnenko: "On 1 September, during the ‘patriotism lessons’ in the schools of Simferopol, the so-called ‘heroes’ of the so-called ‘special operation’ talked about the prospects of professional service in the ranks of the Russian army. Thus, high school students are recruited to the Russian army after completing their education."

Details: According to the head of the KrymSOS board, the occupiers thus violated at least 6 norms of international law.

That includes, in particular, Article 51 IV of the Geneva Convention, which prohibits an occupying power from forcing citizens of the occupied territory to serve in the occupation army, and also prohibits any pressure or propaganda in favour of voluntary military service.

Such actions also contradict the articles of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, which refer to the forcing of citizens of occupied territory to military service in the occupying army, as well as forcing citizens of occupied territory to participate in a conflict against their own state.

In addition, the Russian invaders violated Article 20 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which prohibits any propaganda of war.

Additionally, they violated Articles 1 and 2 of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Participation of Children in Armed Conflicts, which protect persons under the age of 18 from forced conscription for military service and from direct participation in hostilities.

Background: 

• In July, the State Duma of the Russian Federation introduced an amendment to the law on military service. It allows them to sign contracts with those who have not completed military service, for example, with 18-year-olds who have just finished school.
• Sergey Aksyonov, head of the Russian occupying government in Crimea, claimed that 1,200 Crimean residents are taking part in the war against Ukraine on Russia's side.

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