U.S. Sanctions Kadyrov's Mother And Others Involved In Forced Deportation Of Ukrainian Children

Washington D.C./25.08.23/Turan:  The United States on Thursday announced sanctions on 13 individuals and entities it said are reportedly connected to the forced deportation and transfer of Ukraine's children, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.

The State Department is also taking steps to impose visa restrictions on three Russia-installed authorities over their involvement in human rights abuses of Ukrainian minors, in connection with the forced deportation, transfer, and confinement of Ukraine’s children.

"With these actions, the United States continues to demonstrate its commitment to promoting accountability for the atrocities and other abuses inflicted by Russia on the people of Ukraine," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

The move came just hours after President Joe Biden recommitted his country's 'unwavering and enduring support' for Ukraine to celebrate Ukraine Independence Day.

“Today, the people of Ukraine are once more marking their Independence Day, while suffering the all-out assault of Putin’s craven war for land and power,” Biden said in a statement adding that Americans are united against Putin.

Among those hit with sanctions on Thursday is Aymani Nesievna Kadyrova, the mother of the Chechen strongman Ramzan Kadyrov, who is a close ally of Putin.

Putin himself is under an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court for the abduction and deportation of Ukrainian children, as is his commissioner for children’s rights, Maria Lvova-Belova.

Other sanctioned individuals also include commissioners for children's rights in Russia's Belgorod, Kaluga, and Rostov regions, as well as the Chechen Republic's commissioner for human rights and the Chechen government's chairman Muslim Magomedovich Khuchiev.

Also targeted was Artek, a Russian government-owned summer camp in Russia-occupied Crimea, and its director Konstantin Fedorenko.

Ukraine estimates that Russian authorities have deported and/or forcibly displaced over 19,500 children from their homes since the start of the invasion.

Biden in his message to Ukraine outlined work with European partners to help the Ukrainian armed forces and to hold Russia accountable over the past 18 months.

“I sincerely hope that next year, Ukrainians will be able to celebrate their Independence Day in peace and safety, knowing how their extraordinary courage inspired the world,” Biden noted. “May Ukraine’s Independence Day be a reminder that the forces of darkness and dominion will never extinguish the flame of liberty that lives in the heart of free people everywhere.”

Meanwhile. the White House on Thursday hosted national security advisors from France, Germany, Italy and the UK. In meeting with Biden's national security advisor Jake Sullivan, they "examined further ways to hold Russia accountable for the destruction it has brought in its illegal war," the White House said.

Alex Raufoglu