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governors and local authorities, showing the evidence of a state policy with a clear structure and organisation

dedicated to the deportations and forcible transfers of children.

We have all seen proof as propaganda actions, with Mr Vladimir Putin and Ms Maria Lvova-Belova

defending legal changes for a rapid acquisition of Russian nationality for Ukrainian children. Russian families

with smiling faces receiving two, three, four and even five children at the same time for adoption, in exchange

of monetary compensation.

Children have reinforced protection under international law. In these practices of persistent deportation, we

can see an inhuman intention to destroy Ukrainian identity, with grave human and legal consequences.

In these practices, together with the monstruous process of Russification, we see elements of the crime of

genocide, considered the crime of crimes, for the complete denial of children's right to have an identity, a

culture and a normal and safe family environment in their own country.

The 1948 Genocide Convention, Article 2(e), and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court in

article 6(e) states very clearly that the deportation or forcible transfers of children from one group to another is

one of the elements of the crime of genocide.

We, therefore, congratulate the arrest warrants issued against Mr Vladimir Putin and Ms Maria Lvova-

Belova, recalling that many others, with similar responsibilities, should also be investigated in the light of

possible crimes of genocide.

With this report, the Council of Europe is accomplishing its most noble mission of defending human rights,

accountability for those who committed war crimes, and the right of people to live in peace and security.

The deportations of children must stop, as well as forcible adoptions, illegal acquisition of Russian

nationality, and re-education and Russification must stop. All children must return to their homes or to a safe

third country.

To finish, let me thank all those that have worked on this report, the Committee on Migration, Refugees and

Displaced Persons, the Secretariat in first place, experts, our Spanish colleague, and the delegations who gave

their contributions, and all the colleagues that will participate in this debate, aiming for the best interest of

children and the respect of human rights and international law.

Thank you.

No final do debate e antecedendo as votações, o Deputado Paulo Pisco fez a seguinte intervenção:

Thank you, Chairman.

First of all, I would like to thank you very much for all the participation, especially the

first lady Olena Zelenska, who came to participate in our debate with a very touching

testimony, and to all the colleagues that brought here also their testimonies in this very

important subject. All those that participated, I think, are very, very important to give a

solid basis to the position of the Council of Europe.

I am very pleased that now we can speak loud and clear about a couple of subjects

that I hope will make their own way in the future. The question of deported children, now we have spoken loud

and clear about it. The question of Russification, we have spoken loud and clear about this subject. The

question of the need to have proof of the crime of genocide, we spoke loud and clear in this Assembly. And I

think that is the role of the Council of Europe to do all this, to be on the side of those who are suffering and to

be on the side of those who are against those the perpetrators of the crimes of war – all kinds of crimes of war.

I think that the Council of Europe becomes dignified with this discussion, with this report that belongs to the

Assembly. It belongs to all of us and I believe that many of the colleagues who could not participate in this

debate would like very much also to do it because this is a subject that touches all of... It is a question of

humanity. It is humanity that is in question and when we come to speak about crimes of genocide and the

Statute of Rome and the Convention against Genocide are very clear about this and state that is one of the

elements, we are... in fact, it is something that is a shame for all humanity, and we must not be sympathetic

about these questions, we must be very assertive in naming all of these situations. We are facing a state policy