Constance Le Grip: Russia must be held accountable for the genocide of Ukrainians in the TOT

13:06 13.06.2025

Western countries must firmly condemn the policy of forced assimilation and the violent displacement of populations carried out by the Russian Federation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. Such actions may be qualified as crimes against humanity and, under certain conditions, even as genocide. Russia must be held accountable for its actions. This requires supporting the work of the International Criminal Court, maintaining targeted sanctions, and strengthening international efforts aimed at protecting Ukraine’s civilian population, its cultural heritage, and its national sovereignty.

This was stated in a commentary to Guildhall by Constance Le Grip, member of the French National Assembly, Vice-Chairman of the French-Ukrainian Friendship Group, former member of the European Parliament.

«I strongly condemn the policies of forced assimilation and population displacement implemented by the Russian Federation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. These actions, as recently reported, constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law. Presidential Decree No. 159, signed by President Putin, which requires Ukrainian citizens in these regions to either accept Russian citizenship or leave, reflects a clear policy of coercion and identity suppression. It represents an unacceptable attempt to erase Ukrainian cultural and linguistic identity. Several international legal experts consider that these acts could amount to crimes against humanity or even fall within the legal definition of genocide, as set out in the Rome Statute and the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. These allegations must be taken very seriously and investigated thoroughly by the competent international bodies», — the politician emphasized.
«The international community cannot remain silent. Russia must be held accountable for its actions. I fully support the work of the International Criminal Court, the continuation of targeted sanctions, and all efforts aimed at protecting Ukrainian civilians, their cultural heritage, and their national sovereignty. France and the European Union stand firmly alongside the Ukrainian people in their struggle for freedom, sovereignty, justice, and the preservation of their national identity», — the member of the French National Assembly concluded.

Earlier, the Speaker of the Estonian Parliament, Lauri Hussar, called on the West to respond decisively to the genocide of Ukrainians in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. According to him, the war crimes committed by the Russian Federation in these territories require a strong response from the international community. Concrete steps must be taken, including the immediate confiscation of frozen Russian assets, with their subsequent transfer to support Ukraine’s legitimate self-defence, as well as the strengthening and expansion of sanctions against Russia.

In turn, Member of the European Parliament from the Czech Republic (Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance) Marketa Gregorova also called for increased sanctions against the Russian Federation for the ethnic cleansing of Ukrainians in the temporarily occupied territories. Taking into account the legal definition of ethnic cleansing and, potentially, genocide, there is now clear evidence pointing to the systematic destruction by Russian occupation authorities of Ukrainian cultural and historical symbols, as well as repression against Ukrainians. In the MEP’s view, this must have international legal consequences. Furthermore, the international community should intensify sanctions against the Russian Federation.

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