The Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva, Ambassador Vincenzo Grassi, took the floor today during the Interactive dialogue with the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, in the framework of the 55th session of the Human Rights Council.
Amb. Grassi thanked the Commission of Inquiry for its report, underlining that it provides “new evidence of violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, and war crimes committed by Russian armed forces, including attacks on civilians, civilian infrastructure and cultural objects, as well as summary executions, torture, sexual and gender-based violence, ill-treatment of prisoners of war and deportations of children”.
He added that Italy “strongly condemns these atrocities and remains committed to holding those responsible accountable, in line with international law” and therefore continues to “support investigations by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, the work of the Commission of Inquiry and other accountability initiatives”.
“We reaffirm Italy’s unwavering support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, who have been fighting courageously for their freedom and have resisted for over two years Russia’s illegal, unjustifiable, and unprovoked full-scale invasion which constitutes a blatant violation of the UN Charter”, stated the Permanent Representative.
In conclusion he underlined that a “comprehensive, just and lasting peace cannot be achieved without the full respect of Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity” and therefore renewed Italy’s call on Russia to “immediately cease its war of aggression and completely and unconditionally withdraw its military forces from the internationally recognized territory of Ukraine”.
Read the full statement here.
