The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) released a report entitled, “The World Cup is Tainted with the Blood of 6,133 Syrian Civilians Killed by Russia”, documenting the most flagrant violations by Russian forces since the start of its military intervention in Syria on September 30, 2015.
The report noted that Russian warplanes were exterminating tens of thousands of Syrians, thousands of kilometers away from Moscow, at a time when Russia was building stadiums, hotels and hospitals as part of its campaign to organize the Fifa World Cup, which will kick of in June.
The Russia, therefore, is a primary partner in the Syrian regime’s serious violations, according to the report.
Stressing that the World Cup was an opportune moment to remind the world of the atrocities that Russia has perpetrated in Syria, the report said that the SNHR had compiled a comprehensive and detailed database of all the incidents and victims killed by Russian forces.
In addition, the report highlighted three main points that summarize Russia’s role at the United Nations Security Council with respect to Syria.
It said Russia was involved, as a permanent member state, in threatening security and peace in Syria through an unprecedented brutal bombardment, instead of working with the other members on protecting the Syrian people from the daily regime killings that started in the beginning of the popular uprising in the country.
The SNHR added that Russia used its veto power 12 times against any resolution that would condemn, confront, or demand the Syrian regime to be held accountable.
The report said that Russia’s claim that it had intervened in Syria to counter the ISIS and al-Nusra Front groups was used to justify its arbitrary killings and destruction against the people. The unprecedented violence perpetrated by the regime and its Iranian and Russian allies against the Syrians was the primary reason for the emergence of ISIS.
It also noted that 6,133 civilians, including 1,761 children and 661 women (adult female), were killed by Russian forces, which also perpetrated 317 massacres.
More than 939 attacks on vital civilian facilities have been documented, including 167 attacks on medical facilities, 140 on mosques and 55 on markets.
