Terrorists impose curfew in E. Ghouta, publicly punish civilians for violations : Russian MoD

Civilians in Syria’s Eastern Ghouta are being severely punished by militants in public if they break a curfew, which was introduced to prevent them from escaping the embattled area, the Russian Defense Ministry has said.

Militants controlling the Damascus suburb have shelled a medical aid point and continuously open fire at a checkpoint in the area, Major General Vladimir Zolotukhin, a spokesman for the Russian Center for Reconciliation in Syria, told reporters on Sunday.

"At 12:50 [10:50 GMT] the militants from western suburbs of the Er-Rikhan settlement shelled a medical aid point. Six mortar shells exploded at a distance of 200-400 meters in the west," Zolotukhin said. He added that no one was injured in the attacks, unlike yesterday’s assault at the humanitarian corridor, which left three civilians wounded.

Apart from constantly attacking the corridor, militants have also introduced a curfew to coincide with the daily five-hour humanitarian pauses to prevent civilians from fleeing. They have also prohibited people from holding any public gatherings, according to the official.

“Civilians violating the rules established by the militants are severely punished in public,” the general said, referring to information obtained earlier by the reconciliation center.

The Russian military has previously reported that the civilian population was being used as “human shield” by the terrorists. On Sunday, Zolotukhin said that they “hide behind the backs of the elderly, women and children” while boosting their positions inside civilian infrastructure......https://on.rt.com/90ev
 (RT)
 4/3/18
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