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Transcript/ScriptUkraine Crimea Conscription – Bakalets
HEADLINE: In Annexed Crimea, Tatars Being Conscripted Into Russian Military
TEASER: Under the Geneva Conventions, an occupying power is not allowed to conscript people in occupied area, human rights organization says
PUBLISHED AT: 10/09/2022 at 5:05 pm
BYLINE: Lesia Bakalets
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Washington
VIDEOGRAPHER: Lesia Bakalets
VIDEO EDITOR: Anatolie Casenco
SCRIPT EDITORS: Kenochs: Reifenrath
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA, see courtesies
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB TV X only RADIO __
TRT: 3:06
VID APPROVED BY: KE
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES: ))
((INTRO))
[[Russia has been conducting what it calls a partial mobilization since September 21st, and citizens in annexed Crimea are being called up to help fight. But human rights experts say the Indigenous Crimean Tatars are most often being conscripted. Lesia Bakalets has the story, narrated by Anna Rice.]]
((NARRATION))
Pro-Russian Crimean leaders say Russia’s so-called partial mobilization of troops in the annexed peninsula has ended.
But one human rights leader supporting the Indigenous Crimean Tatars, who would only speak with us anonymously, says conscription notices keep coming.
((Voice of Crimean Tatar, Human Rights Activist ((RUS)) [[Anonymously]] ((audio_Crimean activist)) ((18:12-))
“From what I’ve been told, summonses are being brought to people’s homes. People understand not everyone who knocks on their door is a friend, so not everyone opens up. But they [[authorities]] start putting on an act, saying someone needs help – and once the person opens the door, they give him the summons.”
((NARRATION))
Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agrees.
((Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukrainian President (UKR))) ((AP)) ((01:38-))
“The situation in occupied Crimea is catastrophic. The information regarding Crimean Tatars being conscripted has been fully verified. Most of the summonses being delivered there go to Crimean Tatars.”
((NARRATION))
((Mandatory courtesy: CCTV/AP))
Human rights activists are urging people to ignore the
((End courtesy))
summonses, to not show up at military commissariats, and, if possible, to move.
((Serhiy Parkhomenko, Crimean Tatar Resource Center (UKR))) ((Skype)) ((07:05-))
“It’s better to avoid public gatherings to not become a victim of Russian military commissariats. // ((07:37-)) There are hot lines, including that of the Security Service of Ukraine, that allow men, if they end up on the front lines, to call and find a way to surrender."
((NARRATION))
Many Crimean Tatars are trying to leave the peninsula while they still can.
((Crimean Tatar Human Rights Activist ((RUS)) [[Anonymously]] ((audio_Crimean activist)) ((10:42-))
“Some of the men from 18 to 50 were trying to leave. Those with money and contacts abroad tried to go abroad – either through Georgia or Kazakhstan."
((NARRATION))
Staff at the Crimean Tatar Resource Center believe Russia’s so-called partial mobilization is a way to destroy the Crimean Tatar resistance movement on the peninsula.
((Serhiy Parkhomenko, Crimean Tatar Resource Center)) ((Skype)) ((UKR)) ((09:45-))
“They [[Russia]] want to destroy Crimean Tatars with Ukraine’s hands. That’s the most convenient way for them. They’ll send them to the front lines, to the most dangerous places.”
((NARRATION))
It is unclear how many people have been conscripted in Crimea. But international human rights activists insist the conscription itself is illegal.
((Rachel Denber, Human Rights Watch Deputy Director (ENG))) ((Zoom)) ((02:40-))
Russia is obligated to uphold the Geneva conventions, to which it is a party, the Geneva conventions. // And among those rules is one that the occupying power is not allowed to conscript people in the areas it is occupying.”
((NARRATION))
Human Rights Watch representatives and other groups say they are documenting this and other potential Russian war crimes.
For Lesia Bakalets in Washington,
Anna Rice, VOA News
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)Washington D.C.
Embargo DateOctober 9, 2022 19:02 EDT
BylineFor Lesia Bakalets in Washington,
Anna Rice, VOA News
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
