Switzerland’s system of conscription has been enshrined in the Constitutions since the establishment of the federal state in 1848, which reads “each Swiss is subject to conscription”. In other words, military service to the state and the concept of a “citizen-soldier”, is as old as the country itself.

The omission of the red stripe is a symbol of Russia without blood, war, and aggression. Promoters of the flag say the tri-color of the Russian Federation is now forever associated with war crimes and militarism.

Over the past year, food prices have been slowly on the rise. Supply chain disruption from the Covid crisis is now being compounded by the impact of the conflict in Ukraine on the global agriculture trade, with key markets now facing substantial jumps in costs.

In the wake of the liberation of Bucha by Ukrainian forces, 412 bodies were found littered in the streets, buildings and shallow graves throughout the region. As of 15 April, this tally has risen to over 600, with 80% of victims being identified as having bullet wounds.

On February 21, 2022, three days before its invasion of Ukraine, Russia recognized the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics as independent states.

The tactics employed by the Russian government are nothing more than a ploy to suppress its own political opposition. These discriminatory tactics are reflective of the distaste the Russian government has for what it views as unpatriotic ideology.

With all evidence considered, the actions of the Belarusian security forces amount to a denial of not only the rights to freedom of association and assembly but also freedom from torture, free speech, the right to due process and effective remedies and demonstrates failures of the national accountability mechanisms.

While the assessment of general and specific IHL only leaves more questions, the short and safe answer is that Russia’s sole use of thermobaric weaponry is permitted by IHL.

Moscow must not be allowed to get away with this, even if the sanctions are also costly to the side imposing them. If Russia thinks it has won Ukraine, it is naïve to think it will stop there – this victory will only embolden it to go after everything else it desires.

Since the fall of the USSR, Ukraine has come a long way. While the country still struggles with corruption and economic challenges, it has made strides towards becoming a successful, Western-facing democracy. To safeguard this progress, and the state’s territorial integrity, the West should stand firm against Russia’s recent manoeuvres in forthcoming talks – and Ukraine must be involved.