Ukraine and America may have been calling the President of Russia a war criminal, but it is not so by just saying that he will become a war criminal.
However, the investigation report of an independent commission set up by the United Nations has confirmed the Russian army to have committed war crimes to a great extent.
At the centre of this report is President Vladimir Putin. Even after this, it is very important to know what the international rules say for this.
Geneva Convention
Let us tell you that some rules were made in Geneva in 1949 which were related to the war, which we know today as the Geneva Convention. About 161 rules made in the Geneva Convention are also called International Humanitarian Law or Law of War.
In these, it has been told in detail about the methods of fighting the war. It has also been mentioned in these that if anyone breaks or violates these rules, then he will be called a war criminal. The reason behind making these rules was the two atomic bombs dropped by the US on Japan, which killed about 3 lakh people. Only after that these rules were made.
Chapter 44 of the Geneva Convention
Chapter 44 of the Law of War, which was made in the Convention, specifically expresses the definition of war crimes. Chapter 44 states that inhuman treatment or torture of prisoners during the war, brutal murder, prevention prisoners of war from a trial, targeting civilians and taking them hostage using them as shields, their Occupying property, residential areas, buildings, schools, colleges, homes, medical workers, journalists, hospitals, UN relief units, historical monuments, religious sites, cultural heritage, shelters designed to protect civilians, and demilitarized zones Crimes such as targeting of a war criminal fall under the category of war crimes. According to the rules, if someone violates the rules, that person can be prosecuted in the International Criminal Court.
It is necessary to give a warning before attacking
One of these rules is more special. Under these rules, it is necessary to warn other countries before attacking. It simply means that no country can attack without informing or suddenly on the border of another country.
This rule was made so that those areas where people are most likely to be attacked should be evacuated in time. In the war between Russia and Ukraine, there have been many such incidents, including the Bucha massacre, in which the finger has been raised on Russia’s side for being a war criminal. On the other hand, Russia suddenly attacked Ukraine.
- Using toxic or prohibited weapons.
- Killing sick or injured or unarmed refugees.
- smuggle
- kill someone after giving asylum
- To plunder
- Not giving safe passage for common citizens to exit.
- Air strikes on civilians.
- Killing surrendered soldiers.
- Attack and sink the enemy’s cargo ship.
- Attacking ceasefire signals.
- Violating the terms of the peace treaty.
Under all these rules, even if someone is convicted, the International Court does not have the right to punish him. He is the only authority to give instructions.
Therefore, in such crimes, collectively imposing sanctions against the said person or country is considered the only option. If we talk about these rules, then these rules have been broken many times.
