Guidelines for Persons Communicating in Public Concerning Prisoners of War
The Working Group of the Coordination Staff on the Treatment of Prisoners of War, which includes representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, has developed relevant recommendations to be taken into account by the media, relatives, families and combatants who have returned from captivity during public communication.
“During the war, communication about prisoners of war is like a walk through a delicate crisis. Every word said can affect the conditions of Russia's detention of prisoners of war and the process of their return. Today, all Ukrainians are happy when our boys and girls return home. However, there are often cases when the media, relatives, acquaintances and the fighters themselves who have returned from captivity do not fully understand how to communicate in order not to harm the process of exchanging prisoners of war,” said Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Kateryna Pavlichenko.
The recommendations will help to better understand the threats and the right ways of communication.
To the relatives of the Defenders and Defenders who are temporarily in captivity, the media:
It is worth avoiding:
● Transfers to the media of personal data and personal information of defenders (for example: a prisoner reported that he was a paramedic or a driver, and his released colleague in an interview submits other information).
● Conscious or unconscious participation in the psychological operations of the enemy (example — calls from prisons to relatives of prisoners: “You are with us, why don't you take away? Do something, protest.”
● Excessive media coverage of prisoners who were not publicly known before they were captured. This can complicate the return process.
How it is desirable to act:
● Contact international organizations (PACE, OSCE, UN General Assembly, UN Commission on Human Rights, governments of states) with demands to put pressure on Russia to implement the Geneva Convention.
● Contact the ICRC, the UN Working Group on Violent and Unintentional Disappearances.
● Maintain regular contact with Coordination Headquarters.
● Report new information about prisoners to the National Information Bureau (NIB) and to the materials of criminal proceedings (through the investigator).
● In the event that someone tries in person or through online tools (forms, chatbots, etc.) located on unofficial resources, to find out any data about servicemen (part number, location, personal data, etc.) or to demand money or other values as payment for the alleged return, exchange, inclusion in lists for exchange etc. — immediately notify the Coordination Headquarters and law enforcement agencies.
Freed Defenders and Defenders and their Relatives, Media
It is worth avoiding:
● Messages like “he will recover quickly and return to the front.” This can negatively affect further negotiation processes.
● Not to disclose to the media personal data and information about siblings who are still in captivity.
● Excessive specificity during public statements about violations of rights (torture, conditions of detention), use general narratives about such cases. Due to detailed publicly disseminated information, brothers who are still in captivity of the enemy may suffer. Also, the enemy can assess the effectiveness of the effects of torture, based on the memories of those released from captivity.
● Do not distribute photo or video materials depicting siblings who have not yet been released. From them, the enemy can get additional information about what the prisoner or captive was doing.
How it is desirable to act:
● In conversations with the media, emphasize the need for Russia to comply with the norms of the Geneva Conventions.
● To support the relatives of those who remained in captivity, Ukraine is constantly working for their release.
● Help relatives of prisoners to submit data directly to NIB.
● Be aware that every word said can affect the conditions of stay of those who remain in captivity. (Including in the “legal” field of the Russian Federation: the classification of actions of defenders can be changed).
