Ukrainian refugees in Siret customs, Photo: Agerpres
Ukrainians who were forced to leave their country due to the Russian invasion launched four years ago can now submit a claim for compensation to a body under the auspices of the Council of Europe, the institution announced on Monday, according to AFP.
The damage register for Ukraine, established in 2023, aims to document human rights violations committed during the war, in order to quantify the amount of compensation that will be demanded from Russia in the future.
“Responsibility is not an abstract principle. It is the very foundation of Ukraine's recovery – and of lasting peace,” the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, emphasized in a statement.
“Today, the Registry opens a new category of claims: Ukrainian refugees who were forced to settle abroad will now be able to submit claims for compensation for the damages they suffered,” added the Swiss head of the institution that monitors human rights on the continent.
Ukrainians can already file claims for compensation for about 15 consequences of the war, including forced displacement, death or disappearance of relatives, torture, destruction of home or loss of access to their home region.
The Council of Europe reports that it has already received, based on these criteria, 110,000 applications.
The creation of this new category aims to compensate for the “moral damage” suffered by those in exile.
“For many, displacement leads to prolonged separation from their homes, disruption of family life and significant psychological difficulties,” notes the Council of Europe.
According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), 6.8 million people who were forced to leave Ukraine are still outside the country.
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