Nobel Laureate Oleksandra Matviichuk on Putin, War Crimes, and Justice for Ukraine

Putin's Accountability and International Justice

• 🎯 Putin should be seen in the International Criminal Court rather than on red carpets, reflecting a desire for justice over diplomatic recognition.
• ⚖️ The speaker reminds that authoritarian regimes collapse, and their leaders, even those who feel untouchable, eventually face legal consequences.
• 🚨 An arrest warrant has been issued for Putin, officially recognizing him as a significant figure in alleged international crimes.

Documenting Russian War Crimes in Ukraine

• 📝 The Civil Liberties Center, led by the speaker, has gathered evidence of 88,000 Russian war crimes in Ukraine.
• 🕵️‍♀️ Evidence collection involves testimonies from victims and witnesses, analysis of open-source data with verification, and deployment of mobile groups to occupied territories.
• 📸 Local documentators capture photos and videos of incidents like rocket strikes on residential buildings and hospitals, providing on-the-ground accounts.

Russia's Use of War Crimes as a Method of Warfare

• 💔 Russia is accused of deliberately inflicting pain on civilians to break resistance and occupy the country, instrumentalizing human suffering.
• ⚠️ The speaker, despite professional experience, was unprepared for the level of atrocities witnessed, highlighting the extreme nature of the conflict.

The Role of Tribunals and Justice

• 🏛️ A tribunal, with the Council of Europe's blessing, is being established to prosecute war crimes, aiming to provide judgment in absentia.
• 💡 Unlike historical victor's justice (e.g., Nuremberg), this tribunal can start proceedings now, emphasizing that justice is a basic human right in the 21st century.

Dealing with Collaborators and Occupied Territories

• 🤝 A policy of national reconciliation is needed for collaborators, distinguishing between those who commit war crimes and those who merely try to survive under occupation.
• 🚫 Ukrainians will not legitimize Russian occupation or reward aggression, viewing Russian occupation as a reality of enforced disappearances, torture, rape, and denial of identity.
• 🌍 The conflict is framed not just about territories but about the people living under occupation and the severe human rights abuses they face.