OOSCE countries activate the Moscow Mechanism in response to reports of Russia's cruel treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war
Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of Foreign Affairs
2025-07-25
On 24 July, at the Permanent Council of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), 41 countries, including Lithuania, activated the Moscow Mechanism to assess the treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) by Russia, following consultations with Ukraine.
"There have been credible reports that the extensive and routine torture and ill-treatment of Ukrainian POWs throughout their detention constitutes a continued, systematic pattern of state policy and practice by the Russian Federation," reads the statement of the parties invoking the Moscow Mechanism. The statement also highlights grave concern over reports of executions of Ukrainian POWs and mutilation of their bodies by Russian forces.
By initiating the mechanism, the aim is to have independent experts assess potential violations of OSCE obligations, human rights, and international humanitarian law, including war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war by the Russian Federation.
This is the fifth time the Moscow Mechanism has been triggered in response to alleged Russian crimes since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In addition to Lithuania, the initiative is supported by: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
The statement in English from the OSCE participating states that initiated the Moscow Mechanism is available here.
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