The following text is a Communique issued by the commander in Chief of the Militia of the Donesk People’s Republic.
We are posting this for the purpose of informing GR readers.
Translated from Russian by Gleb Bazov (Subject to Editing)
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ORDER of the Commander-in-Chief of the Donetsk People’s Republic Militia
July 27, 2014, in the City of Donetsk
With respect to the introduction of measures to be applied to the voluntarily surrendering servicemen of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Recently, we have been observing a sharp increase in the number of servicemen within the ranks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces unwilling to continue fighting a fratricidal war against their own people and refusing to obey the criminal orders of their command. Despite being subjected to various types of punishment by their commanders and to violent duress by the Nazis, all the way up to extrajudicial executions, such servicemen, nevertheless, do not surrender to the forces of the DPR Militia, fearful of being subjected to repressions by the latter. Guided by considerations of humanity in the name of stopping the bloodshed and saving the lives of Ukrainian servicemen, who were forcibly sent into the area of the fratricidal war, [scroll down]
I HEREBY ORDER:
All the commanders and the fighters of the forces of the DPR Militia not to open fire on groups or individual servicemen of the Ukrainian Armed Forces that have raised a white flag or signified their intention to surrender in another manner. After disarmament and inspection to ensure that they carry no weapons, such persons are to be permitted through the battle ranks of the Militia and concentrated in special collection points for further transportation to the deep rear under guard. Those persons are to be assigned the status of POW [Prisoners of War].
In accordance with the Geneva Conventions “Rules of Conducting Warfare”, and the additional protocols thereto, such persons shall be provided with such nutrition and medical assistance as may be required. The use of executions, torture and humiliation in relation to them is prohibited. Any contravention of this part is considered to be a military offense and shall be punishable in accordance with the Laws of Wartime.
There shall be a formal accounting of all the above-noted persons and information regarding them shall be sent to the Staff of the DPR Militia for the determination of their future location in accordance with three schemes that are based on personal choice. Persons that voluntarily lay down arms and surrender to the forces of the DPR Militia and that have not committed grave crimes in the course of the hostilities on the territory of Novorossiya may choose:
- to return to their families in Ukraine;
- to join the ranks of the DPR Militia; and,
- to be sent to the territory of Russia as a temporarily interned person (an option – as a refugee).
Minister of Defence
Commander of the Militia
Of the Donetsk People’s Republic
Colonel I.I. Strelkov
