Red Cross confirms contact with Russia about Ukrainian kids
The International Committee of the Red Cross says it has been in contact with Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights, who is suspected of war crimes, as it works for the return of Ukrainian children who were deported to Russia
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The International Committee of the Red Cross says it has been in contact with a Russian official suspected of war crimes as it works for the return of Ukrainian children who were deported to Russia.
The ICRC’s contacts with Russian children’s rights commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova marked the first confirmation of high-level international intervention to reunite families with children who were forcibly deported.
ICRC spokesman Jason Straziuso said Thursday the organization is in contact with Lvova-Belova “in line with its mandate to restore contact between separated families and facilitate reunification where feasible.”
That goes beyond the engagement of other agencies. The U.N. children’s agency UNICEF said it has also been in contact with Russian officials about the children, but spokesman Kurtis Cooper told The Associated Press that UNICEF “has not received feedback on our offer to facilitate reunifications processes." Refugees International denied any contact with the Russians — despite Lvova-Belova's claim it had contacted her.
