As the CEO of The Ukrainian Review, I believe we have to cover the most pressing and important issues of our time. Unfortunately, we are witnessing regular war crimes committed by Russia on the territory of Ukraine. Even more disturbing is the lack of response from the international community to these cases, despite their obvious scale and brutality.
Russia, a signatory to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and Additional Protocols I and II of 1977, is in flagrant violation of them. Article 3 of the Conventions expressly prohibits the killing, torture, and inhuman treatment of prisoners of war. Article 32 emphasizes that states must refrain from acts of violence against the civilian population. In addition, Russia violates UN Resolution 3314, which defines aggression as a crime against international peace, as well as international standards for the protection of journalists, including UN Security Council Resolution 1738.
These systematic violations include not only the mass shootings of civilians in Bucha but also regular acts of violence against prisoners of war. Over the past six months, we have witnessed weekly videos of horrific scenes of executions, torture and other crimes being filmed and posted on social media by Russian forces. These actions provoke a sense of uncontrollability among Ukrainians and cause widespread fear. History teaches us that impunity only encourages aggressors.
The world’s inaction during the genocide in Rwanda (Between 500,000 and 662,000 Tutsis died then) and the conflicts in Bosnia led to an increase in the scale of the tragedy and a growing sense of impunity for the perpetrators. We cannot allow this to happen again in the 21st century. It is also important to recall that the genocide of Ukrainians has become a Russian policy. It was Russia that provoked the Holodomor, during which approximately 4.5 million people died. It also caused massive tragedies in Syria, Ossetia, and other countries where it participated in armed conflicts.
That is why we have launched the #NoPeaceWithoutJustice project. It aims to draw the attention of high-level officials, such as UN representatives, ombudsmen and state leaders, to the problem of systematic violations of international human rights. Our friends have already organized a demonstration at the UN headquarters in New York to draw attention to the horrors taking place in Ukraine and plan to continue this work at other key international institutions.
We urge each of you to support our initiative. Please share information about it with your representatives in local parliaments, UN delegates, ombudsmen, or members of the European Parliament. Contact your delegate to PACE and demand decisive action to condemn Russia’s war crimes. Every vote counts, and your support can help make a difference. The initiative also envisages the creation of analytical materials highlighting the consequences of Russia’s crimes. In this context, we invite international experts and diplomats to have a frank conversation.
We call on the world to support the creation of a special tribunal to investigate Russia’s war crimes and ensure fair punishment for all those involved in the crimes. Without justice, peace is an illusion. Russia’s ongoing war crimes are a deliberate tool to avoid any dialogue and destabilize the situation.
The initiative #NoPeaceWithoutJustice is about Ukraine and protecting the principles of international law, which are the basis of the world order. As the UN Secretary-General stated: “Silence in the face of such crimes undermines the very idea of humanity.” At The Ukrainian Review, we continue to fight for justice, document crimes and draw the world’s attention to them. Together, we can ensure that the aggressor is brought to justice and take a step towards sustainable peace. If you would like to join this initiative or support our efforts, please contact us at [email protected].
Volodymyr Savchenko, CEO of The Ukrainian Review
