meleager, I believe the problem we are dealing with is deeply cross cultural. The Russian mind and psyche was not brought up with the concept of Aristotelian logic which, even if in a European society most people have never heard of it, they are mentally governed by it. Just as a brutalised dog will take a year to trust the concept of " do this right, you get food" so many societies have no basic concept of logic,. If this, then that. If not this then not that.
Non logical societies and cultures in my experience will not associate generosity with kindness, simply suspicion. If you show kindness you are weak, if you show brutality you will be followed with grudging respect.
Let us stick to the Geneva Convention without frills.