On February 29, France and 44 other Participating States belonging to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) invoked the Moscow Mechanism for the purpose of investigating allegations of serious human rights violations by OSCE Participating States.

An independent mission of experts will be tasked with establishing the facts with regard to Russia’s arbitrary detention of Ukrainian civilians. The report’s conclusions will contribute to ongoing investigations, with the aim of formally determining legal and political responsibility for abuses committed on Ukrainian soil.

This is the fourth time that France has joined with other Participating States to invoke the Moscow Mechanism. The previous three occasions dealt with violations of international humanitarian law and human rights, war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Ukraine, and Russia’s deportation of Ukrainian children as part of its war of aggression against that country.

France remains staunchly committed to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, its international partners and international tribunals in the fight against impunity for the perpetrators of these crimes.