US warns of Russian 'kill list' of Ukrainians to target after invasion

WASHINGTON • The United States government has sent a letter to the United Nations human rights chief in Geneva, saying it has "credible information" that Russian forces have compiled a list of Ukrainian citizens to be killed or sent to detention camps in the aftermath of a Russian invasion and occupation of the country, according to a copy of the letter obtained by The New York Times.

The letter, which was addressed to Ms Michelle Bachelet, the UN high commissioner for human rights, also said Russian forces planned to carry out widespread human rights violations, which in the past have included torturing and kidnapping civilians.

The likely targets would be people opposed to Russian actions, including dissidents from Russia and Belarus living in Ukraine, journalists, anti-corruption activists and members of ethnic and religious minorities and the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) community.

"We also have credible information that Russian forces will likely use lethal measures to disperse peaceful protests or otherwise counter peaceful exercises of perceived resistance from civilian populations," said the letter, which was signed by Ms Bathsheba Nell Crocker, the US ambassador to the UN office in Geneva.

Three US officials confirmed the authenticity of the letter and its contents. Foreign Policy first reported last Friday on US agencies having intelligence about a Russian "kill list", and The Washington Post first reported on the letter on Sunday. The letter noted that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had raised the human rights concerns to the UN Security Council when he addressed that body last Thursday.

"In particular, he stated that the US has information that indicates Russia will target specific groups of Ukrainians," the letter said.

In that session, Mr Blinken told Russian officials they could prove their peaceful intentions to the world by not invading Ukraine and addressing their grievances through diplomacy instead.

Mr Blinken plans to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Europe on Thursday, unless Russia invades Ukraine first. US President Joe Biden and Mr Blinken have said US intelligence indicates that Russian President Vladimir Putin has already decided to invade.

NYTIMES