US says Russia has list of Ukrainians to kill or detain

WASHINGTON – The United States government has sent a letter to the United Nations Human Rights Coordinator in Geneva saying it has “credible information” that Russian forces have compiled a list of Ukrainian nationals who will be killed or sent to concentration camps following the killing of a Russian citizen. Invasion and occupation of the country according to A copy of the message The New York Times got it on Sunday.

The letter, which was addressed to Michelle Bachelet, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said that Russian forces intended to commit widespread human rights abuses, which in the past included torture and kidnapping of civilians.

Those likely to be targeted are people opposed to Russia’s actions, including defectors from Russia and Belarus living in Ukraine, journalists, anti-corruption activists, members of ethnic and religious minorities, and the LGBT community.

“We also have credible information that Russian forces will likely use lethal measures to disperse peaceful protests or counter peaceful exercises of perceived resistance from the civilian population,” reads the letter, signed by Pachepa Neil Crocker, the US ambassador to the United Nations. office in Geneva.

Three US officials confirmed the authenticity of the letter and its contents.

foreign policy first mentioned On Friday, US agencies have intelligence on Russia’s “kill list,” The Washington Post first mentioned On the letter on Sunday.

The letter indicated that US Secretary of State Anthony J. Blinken raised human rights concerns to the UN Security Council When he addressed that body Thursday. “In particular, he stated that the United States had information indicating that Russia would target specific groups of Ukrainians,” the letter read.

At that hearing, Mr. Blinken told Russian officials that they could prove their peaceful intentions to the world by not invading Ukraine and instead address their grievances through diplomacy. Mr Blinken plans to meet with Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, in Europe on Thursday, unless Russia invades Ukraine first.

President Biden and Mr. Blinken said US intelligence indicated that Russian President Vladimir Putin had already decided to invade. In recent weeks, Putin has massed up to 190,000 troops around Ukraine. Russia-backed rebels have intensified their artillery bombardment of Ukrainian military forces in recent days.

Mr. Putin invaded parts of Ukraine in 2014 and annexed Crimea into the country. Mr. Biden has promised to impose harsh economic sanctions On Russia if Mr. Putin makes another invasion.