April 6 & 7, 2022

Japanese Communist Party representative Kokuta Keiji on April 6 condemned the Russian military’s alleged atrocities against Ukraine civilians, appealing for the need to probe into the allegation in order to hold Russia accountable for such outrages if found to be true.

Kokuta at a House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee meeting referred to the recent announcement by Ukraine’s justice authorities that the dead bodies of at least 400 civilians were found in Bucha and other areas near Kyiv (Kiev) after the withdrawal of Russian troops. He condemned the killing of civilians as an inhumane act prohibited under international law.

Kokuta stressed that it is necessary to uncover the whole truth behind the allegations of atrocities committed by the Russian military. He quoted UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as saying that it is essential that an independent investigation leads to enforcing accountability, and said, “This is important.”

Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa in response said that a thorough investigation is necessary to determine Russia’s responsibility for the killing of civilians in Bucha.

* * *

On the previous day, JCP Chair Shii Kazuo on Twitter criticized the killing of Ukraine civilians allegedly committed by the Russian military as war crimes. Referring to the UN General-Secretary’s call for an independent investigation, Shii wrote that Russia should allow an independent investigation into the alleged crime violating international humanitarian law.