Ukraine war: Accounts of Russian torture emerge in liberated areas
In north-eastern Ukraine, a counter-offensive has seen the nation's forces recapture swathes of territory, and drive out Russian troops, BBC reported.
But in the newly-liberated areas, relief and sorrow are intertwined - as accounts emerge of torture and killings during the long months of Russian occupation.
Artem, who lives in the city of Balakliya in the Kharkiv region told the BBC he was held by Russians for more than 40 days, and was tortured with electrocution.
Balakliya was liberated on 8 September after being occupied for more than six months. The epicentre of the brutality was the city's police station, which Russian forces used as their headquarters.
Artem said he could hear screams of pain and terror coming from other cells.
The occupiers made sure the cries could be heard, he said, by turning off the building's noisy ventilation system.
"They made me hold two wires," he said.
"There was an electric generator. The faster it went, the higher the voltage. They said, 'if you let it go, you are finished'. Then they started asking questions. They said I was lying, and they started spinning it even more and the voltage increased."
Artem told us he was detained because the Russians found a picture of his brother, a soldier, in uniform. Another man from Balakliya was held for 25 days because he had the Ukrainian flag, Artem said.
A school principal called Tatiana told us she was held in the police station for three days and also heard screams from other cells, according to BBC.
Ukrainian police officers say as many as eight men were held in cells intended for two people. They say locals were scared to even pass the station when the Russians were in charge, in case they were grabbed by Russian soldiers.
In Balakliya's city centre, where the Ukrainian flag flies again, crowds gathered around a small truck carrying food supplies. Many in the queue were elderly and looked exhausted, but there were happy reunions too as friends embraced each other for the first time since the Russians were driven out.
Just a short walk away at the end of a lonely laneway, some of their victims lie hastily buried by their neighbours. A crude wooden cross marked the makeshift grave of a taxi driver called Petro Shepel. His passenger - whose identity is still unknown - lies next to him.
The stench of death filled the air as the police exhumed their remains, and zipped them into body bags.
The authorities say the two men were shot near a Russian checkpoint on the last day of the occupation.
"I want to ask Putin, why did he shoot and kill my son?" she cried.
"What for? Who asked him to come here with such threatening weapons? Not only did he kill our children, but he killed us, their mothers.
"These days I am a dead woman. And I want to address all mothers of the world: rebel against that assassin."
On the road to Balakliya, we saw military vehicles marked with the pro-war "Z" symbol - apparently abandoned by the Russians as they fled, BBC reported.
In a nearby village, we were shown the extensive damage to the school. Local authorities said this was one of the last acts of destruction before the Russians were driven out.
Standing in the ruins, the regional head of Kharkiv, Oleh Syniehubov, said the critical task now was to restore water and electricity supplies, but there are concerns the power lines could be mined.
Asked by the BBC if he thought the Russians could return he replied: "We are in war, there is always danger".
Nepali envoy to Bangladesh Bhandari calls on Foreign Minister Momen
Nepali Ambassador to Bangladesh Ghanshyam Bhandari paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister A.K. Abdul Momen at the latter’s office in Dhaka on Tuesday. During the meeting, views were exchanged on matters of mutual interest, including the promotion of economic linkages forfurther strengthening Nepal-Bangladesh relations, the Embassy of Nepal in Dhaka said. On the occasion, Foreign Minister Momen recalled the contribution of Nepali political and civil society leaders during the liberation war of Bangladesh. He expressed happiness on the increasing momentum of bilateral engagements and underlined the need to enhance economic cooperation in the days ahead. While noting the state of excellent bilateral relations, both at the political and people-to-people levels, ambassador Bhandari also highlighted the positive trends of ongoing engagements between the two countries. He expressed his commitment to work towards consolidating ties in the areas of trade, connectivity, energy, education, and tourism among others, the Embassy said. Earlier today, Ambassador Bhandari also had a meeting with Masud Bin Momen, Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh. They reviewed diverse areas of cooperation and exchanged views on ways and means to further strengthen Nepal-Bangladesh relations for the mutual benefit of the two countries, according to the Embassy. Ambassador Bhandari was accompanied by Deputy Chief of Mission Kumar Rai and Second Secretary Ranjan Yadav during the meetings.
Visiting Chinese leader pays courtesy call on PM Deuba
Li Zhanshu, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of the Republic of China, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba at Singha Durbar on Tuesday. During the meeting, the two dignitaries discussed wide-ranging matters of mutual interest between the two countries including bilateral trade, investment, connectivity, return of Nepali students to China, resumption of passenger flights, and reopening of border ports, among others, read a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Chinese side appreciated Nepal for its stand on One China policy and its commitment not to allow the Nepali territory to be used against the core interests of China. On the occasion, the Prime Minister appreciated China for its continued support to Nepal’s development endeavours over the years. Li assured the Prime Minister that China will reopen the border ports shortly after controlling Covid-19 cases in Tibet while facilitating the passage of containers carrying goods and supplies for upcoming festivities in Nepal, the statement read. The Chinese delegation informed that it will step up efforts to implement Chinese-assisted projects in Nepal. In response to Nepal’s request, the Chinese side agreed to take proactive efforts to support Nepal’s smooth and sustainable graduation from the LDC status. Earlier this morning, Chinese leader Li held a meeting with Ganesh Prasad Timilsina, Chairperson of the National Assembly of the Federal Parliament of Nepal. During the meeting, various matters of Nepal-China relations including the inter-parliamentary exchanges and cooperation were discussed. In the afternoon, Narayan Khadka, Minister for Foreign Affairs, held a meeting with Li. The two sides exchanged views on various aspects of Nepal-China relations during the meeting.
Xi to attend SCO summit in first foreign visit since pandemic, showing ‘focus on neighborhood diplomacy’
Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the 22nd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in the city of Samarkand, Uzbekistan, in his first foreign visit since the COVID-19 pandemic, and inject more Chinese wisdom to the SCO which remains cohesive and attractive to potential new members by advocating equity, justice and true multilateralism in a turbulent and divided world, Global Times reported. The SCO summit in Samarkand will be the first in-person summit since June 2019 when leaders met in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Russian President Vladimir Putin, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi are among leaders expected to attend. According to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying, Xi will also pay state visits to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan from September 14 to 16 at the invitation of the presidents of the two countries. First foreign visit The SCO, the first international organization named after a Chinese city, has a unique significance in China's diplomacy as it includes China's neighbors, regional powers, key BRI partners and plays an important role in coordinating regional affairs, observers said. At a time when China is summarizing its achievements made in the past 10 years and is ready to embark on a new journey of great rejuvenation, the Central Asia trip and the summit of a Eurasian-spanning organization composed of countries of different development paths, systems and cultures, will be an ideal occasion for China to present its wisdom in development and international relations and make contributions to the world, analysts said. Choosing the SCO summit as the destination of his first foreign visit since the pandemic demonstrates the great importance Xi attaches to the SCO and China's focus on neighborhood diplomacy, Li Ziguo, a senior research fellow with the China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times on Monday. Wang Yiwei, director of the Institute of International Affairs at the Renmin University of China stressed that the SCO, accounting for 41 percent of the world's population and 24 percent of global GDP, and which keeps attracting more countries to join, is set to play a pivot role in interpreting and showcasing new forms of international relations, new forms of international organizations, and depicting new forms of human civilization. Zhang Hong, an Eastern European studies expert from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), said Xi's trip and attendance at the SCO summit will serve as a new booster for cooperation with Central Asian and South Asian countries to develop further, and push forward the BRI, according to Global Times. Given the complexity of international and regional situations, the SCO's development is an important pillar supporting true multilateralism and win-win cooperation, and the establishment of a new, democratic, just and rational political and economic international order, the expert said. Kazakhstan is the place where Xi first proposed the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2013. As of today, over 140 countries spanning different regions, cultures and stages of development, and more than 30 international organizations, have signed BRI cooperation documents with China, the Xinhua News Agency reported. According to official data, China's trade with BRI economies jumped 20.2 percent in the first eight months of 2022 compared to the same period last year. Highlights Eight countries enjoy the status of full SCO membership: China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan and India; four countries - Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia - have observer status, and six countries - Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cambodia, Nepal, Turkey, and Sri Lanka - have dialogue partner status. One of the key agendas for the Samarkand summit is enlarging the membership. The heads of SCO states will adopt a memorandum of obligations for Iran to receive SCO membership. The SCO has also received Belarus' application and admission procedures could begin at the summit in Samarkand. Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt will formally become SCO dialogue partners with the signing of relevant documents and negotiations will be held on granting Bahrain, the Maldives and other states' the status of dialogue partner. Li said that against the backdrop of major changes in international relations, the enlargement of the SCO fully demonstrates that current members and pending partners recognize the organization and its guiding Shanghai Spirit, Global Times reported. Championing mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diverse civilizations and pursuit of common development, the SCO creates a sphere of fair and just cooperation and sets a model of a new type of international relations with win-win cooperation at the core, Li noted. At the international level, more members mean stronger voices in global governance. When conflicts and uncertainty create havoc in the world, it is noteworthy that the SCO has cast aside the Cold War mentality, concepts such as the clash of civilizations and superiority of certain civilizations, but upholds non-confrontational principles and maintains cooperation that does not target third parties, experts said. Zhang Hong from CASS sees the summit as an occasion for bilateral interactions where Xi and other heads of states can exchange views and enhance mutual trust. Zhang in particular mentioned possible bilateral meetings of Xi with Putin and Modi. Xi met Putin last in February at the start of the Beijing Winter Olympics and analysts believe the two top leaders' first meeting since the Russia-Ukraine conflict will point the direction for the future development of bilateral relations. Against the backdrop of sweeping Western sanctions against Russia, China-Russia trade jumped 31 percent year-on-year from January to August to $117.2 billion and the two just agreed to a switch in gas payment currencies from the US dollar to the Chinese yuan and Russian ruble. On India, Zhang said he expects a further easing of the China-India border tension through effective communication of the leaders with strategic visions. There are positive signs as the two sides just conducted a fourth round of disengagement after being in stalemate for over a year, the Hindustan Times reported Monday. Though the SCO is more focused on security issues, observers share the consensus that the bloc has a great economic potential with more and more states of various economic structures set to join as members or partners. Li believes the wider participation of Middle Eastern states as well as emerging manufacturing countries means the SCO has large energy consumption needs and strong supply chains, possibly changing the landscape of the energy industry in the region. Zhao Huirong, also from CASS, told the Global Times earlier that taking into account the needs of member countries in terms of financial cooperation, the SCO may expand the scale of local currency settlements and currency swaps in the future, and study the possibility of establishing an independent payment system. Given the surges in China-Russia and India-Russia trade since the Ukraine crisis, and how the US-led confrontation against China and Russia has disturbed both the global economy and the stability of supply chains, the SCO can be a platform for economic multilateralism and boosting regional economic integration, analysts said.
