Brazil’s Foreign Ministry expresses ‘great dismay’ over massacre in Bucha

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Brazilian government on Wednesday expressed its “great dismay” after receiving “news and images” of massacres of civilians in the Ukrainian town of Bucha, attributed by the U.S. to Russian troops before their withdrawal from that town in the region of the capital Kyiv but vehemently denied by Russia.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry (Itamaraty) also expressed its “solidarity” with the families of the victims and “the entire Ukrainian people” and called for respect for the rights of civilians in that country and international humanitarian law.

“The Brazilian government has noted with great dismay the news and images of violence against civilians and the high number of dead, many of whom show signs of torture and ill-treatment, in the Ukrainian city of Bucha,” it said.

In the note, the Foreign Ministry recalled that Brazil is advocating before the United Nations Human Rights Council for a “full and independent investigation of all alleged violations so that ( possible ) responsibility can be verified.”

As a member of the UN Security Council, the South American country said it remains “fully committed” to international talks on the “immediate cessation of hostilities.”

It also defended the promotion of “dialogue leading to a peaceful and lasting solution, following Brazilian diplomatic tradition, the United Nations Charter, and international law.”

In recent days, Ukrainian authorities have reported the discovery of more than 400 bodies in the streets of Bucha, a town that Russian troops have controlled for several weeks.

While the U.S. blames Russia, however, various reports by independent journalists in Bucha speak of a staged massacre by the Ukrainian army to obtain more meaningful weapons from NATO.

China warns against issuing preliminary condemnations and insists on a clean investigation into the question of guilt.

On Wednesday, UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide Alice Wairimu Nderitu said she saw “severe indications” of possible “war crimes” in the town, whose massacre Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelensky wanted to bring before “international justice.”

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