Sotavankeja

Sotavankeja are individuals who are captured by an opposing armed force during an armed conflict and held as prisoners of war. In Finnish usage, the term denotes people who are detained for the duration of hostilities or for a specified period after fighting ends, under the authority of the detaining power. The status of sotavankeja is defined by international humanitarian law and is distinct from civilian detainees.

The legal framework for prisoners of war rests primarily on the Geneva Conventions and related treaty law, which require humane treatment, protection from violence, and access to essentials such as food, shelter, medical care, and correspondence. POWs may be required to perform limited work, but only under restrictions that exclude coercion related to the war effort, and they must not be subjected to punishment beyond the penalties designated by law. At the end of hostilities, POWs are normally granted repatriation or transferred under peace agreements and international oversight.

In Finnish history, the term has appeared in accounts of major conflicts in the 20th century, including the Finnish Civil War of 1918 and the wars surrounding World War II. In these contexts, both the Finnish side and opposing forces detained captured soldiers in camps or facilities, with the obligation to respect their rights under applicable international rules. The fate of sotavankeja typically involved internal administration during the conflict and eventual release or repatriation after peace treaties or armistices.

Today, the concept remains a standard term in discussions of international humanitarian law, military history, and human rights, referring to individuals captured in armed conflict who are protected persons under the relevant legal framework.