British humanist Paul Urey died in Ukraine on Friday July 15 while being detained by Separatist forces. The separatists claimed he committed “Crime” but that he was cared for because of his health problems.
We take stock in four questions.
1. Who was Paul Urey?
So Paul Urey was British, originally from Manchester and Warrington in the north of England. He had gone to Ukraine as a volunteer. A commitment that the pro-Russian forces are contesting.
The NGO Presidium Network claims they knew the Briton, who had left with another Briton, but that they were not connected to him. The NGO presented him as a civilian, a father who would have spent eight years in Afghanistan as an entrepreneur. Presidium Network is a UK-based humanitarian aid NGO.
Paul Urey’s mother also stated that her son was a volunteer in a humanitarian mission. The Ukrainian International Legion confirmed this status: “We are saddened to announce the death of Mr Urey […] He didn’t fight in Ukraine. He was an employee of a humanitarian organization.”said the Legion’s press service, quoted by the Interfax-Ukraine agency.
2. Why was he imprisoned?
Paul Urey and another British humanist, Dylan Healy, were captured by the Russian army on April 29 in southern Ukraine near Dniproroudne. According to the NGO, they tried to evacuate a woman and two children.
The head of the rights of pro-Russian separatists in the Donetsk region, Daria Morozova, said on Friday, July 15, that this is the case “conducted military operations, recruited and trained mercenaries for Ukrainian armed gangs”. A mercenary committed “Crime” from a certain “severity”according to the separatist authorities.
3. How did he die?
The pro-Russians announced the death of Paul Urey this Friday without specifying the exact causes of death.
“Despite the seriousness of (his) crimes, Paul Urey received adequate medical attentionassured Daria Morozova. Despite this, given his diagnosis and the stress, he died on July 10. »
According to her, the deceased suffered from diabetes, kidney, respiratory and heart problems, as well as mental stress. Paul Urey’s mother had also stated that he had diabetes and needed insulin on a daily basis.
4. How did the UK react to this case?
Daria Morozova said in her publication on Friday that the British authorities were aware that Paul Urey was detained by Donetsk forces but had done nothing to retrieve him.
Presidium Network said it was in contact with the UK Foreign Office to advance the research.
When British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss heard of his death, she expressed her anger: “I am shocked by reports of the death of British aid worker Paul Urey, who was arrested in Ukraine on behalf of Russia. » According to the British authorities “Russia must bear full responsibility”. The Russian ambassador in London, Andrei Kelin, was summoned.
war in Ukraine. Four questions on the death of Briton Paul Urey by pro-RussiansZOOM chevron_gauchechevron_droite