Ukraine has introduced a new practice that allows prisoners of war to make phone calls via IP telephony, but only under certain conditions. This decision was made taking into account the requirements of the Geneva Convention for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, which ensures their right to communicate.
According to government representative Taras Melnychuk, telephone conversations via IP telephony will be allowed only if technically possible and with the approval of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War. Such a telephony system must be equipped with appropriate software and be on the balance sheet of the camp where prisoners of war are held.
However, if a prisoner of war is suspected or accused of committing crimes, additional permission from an investigator, prosecutor, or court will be required to make telephone calls. This will ensure control over the process and compliance with the requirements of criminal proceedings.
People's Deputy Oleksiy Honcharenko emphasized that this norm is aimed at bringing Ukrainian legislation into line with international standards, in particular with the Geneva Convention. According to this convention, prisoners of war have the right to communication, which includes access to telephone conversations.
