The US government has written to the UN’s human rights chief in Geneva, claiming that it has “credible information” that Russian forces have prepared a list of Ukrainian nationals who would be killed or detained in the aftermath of the country’s invasion and occupation.
The letter obtained by The New York Times, written to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, also stated that Russian forces planned to commit massive human rights crimes, including torturing and kidnapping citizens as it has done in the past.
People who opposed to Russian activities, such as dissidents from Russia and Belarus who live in Ukraine, journalists, anti-corruption campaigners, members of ethnic and religious minorities, and members of the LGBTQ community, are likely to be the targets of such attacks.
“We also have credible information that Russian forces will likely use lethal measures to disperse peaceful protests or otherwise counter peaceful exercises of perceived resistance from civilian populations,” Ms. Bathsheba Nell Crocker, the US ambassador to the United Nations office in Geneva, wrote in the letter.
The letter’s legitimacy and contents were confirmed by three US officials.
The Washington Post first reported on the letter Sunday, after Foreign Policy first reported on US agencies obtaining intelligence regarding a Russian “kill list” on Friday.
In his address to the United Nations Security Council on Thursday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized human rights concerns, according to the letter.
“In particular, he stated that the United States has information that indicates Russia will target specific groups of Ukrainians,” the letter said.
During that meeting, Mr. Blinken urged Russian officials that they could demonstrate their peaceful intentions to the world by not invading Ukraine and instead of addressing their issues through dialogue.
Unless Russia invades Ukraine first, Mr. Blinken wants to visit Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Europe on Thursday.
US information shows that Russian President Vladimir Putin has already chosen to invade, according to President Joe Biden and Mr. Blinken.
Mr. Putin has amassed as much as 190,000 troops surrounding Ukraine in recent weeks. Insurgents backed by Russia have upped their artillery fire on Ukrainian armed units in the east in recent days.
In 2014, Mr Putin attacked parts of Ukraine and annexed the Crimean Peninsula. If Mr. Putin conducts another invasion, Mr. Biden has threatened to put strong economic measures on Russia.
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