Media Initiative for Human Rights

The Regional Center for Human Rights, along with its partners – the Media Initiative for Human Rights, the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union, Yahad-In Unum, OSINT FOR UKRAINE and the Olenivka Community – filed a Submission with the International Criminal Court calling for an investigation into the mass murder and torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war in Olenivka. The colony, which is located outside the town of Olenivka in the occupied part of Donetsk region, detained around 2,500 Mariupol defenders at various times after the defense of Azovstal had ended and the soldiers surrendered. Witnesses testified that Ukrainian prisoners of war were held in inhumane conditions. They were beaten, deprived of medical care, kept in unsanitary conditions and isolated from the outside world. Human rights activists focused on reconstructing the events of the night of July 28-29, 2022, when two consecutive explosions occurred inside one of the barracks, which caused a fire. The analysis revealed that the explosions appeared to be a deliberate attack by the Russian Federation. Evidence of this is provided by physical traces, eyewitness testimony, and expert opinions. The tragedy affected approximately 200 people. The explosion killed at least 45 prisoners of war, and at least nine more died later due to the deliberate failure of the colony administration to provide medical care. About 140 other prisoners of war sustained injuries of varying severity. Human rights activists have also identified individuals allegedly involved in war crimes against Ukrainian prisoners of war. Among them: - Serhiy Yevsiukov, Head of the Colony (allegedly died on December 9, 2024, in occupied Donetsk), and his deputy, Dmytro Neyolov; - Yuriy Doroshenko, Director of the State Penitentiary Service of the Ministry of Justice of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR); - Arkadiy Gostev, Director of the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation, along with his deputies, Valeriy Boyariniev and Rustam Stepanenko; - Kirill Popov, head of the Federal Penitentiary Service group in the so-called DPR; - Aleksandr Bastrykin, Head of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, and his deputy, Konstantin Korpusov; - Sergey Surovikin, commander of the Southern Grouping of Russian troops in Ukraine in June-September 2022. All the evidence gathered, including the testimony of victims, the results of expert examinations, photo and video materials, has been submitted to the International Criminal Court. We call on the ICC Prosecutor to: - initiate an investigation as soon as possible into the massacre and torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war in Olenivka, which bear the elements of war crimes under Article 28 and Article 8(2)(a)(i-ii) of the Rome Statute; - request the Pre-Trial Chamber to issue arrest warrants for the perpetrators in connection with the presence of elements of these war crimes in their actions.

Looking for an analyst! Full-time, can be done remotely Deadline for CV submission: 16.12.2024 Key duties and responsibilities Investigation of strategic cases of torture and related crimes. Coordination with national remedies for victims at the national level. Preparation of submissions of these cases to international bodies. Co-operation with prosecutors and law enforcement agencies, where possible. Organization, support, and assistance with documentation and advocacy activities. Preparation of reports and legal communications on torture and related crimes to international human rights and other mechanisms, including the UN Committee against Torture and the wider UN human rights system, the OSCE, and the ICC. Qualifications/Requirements (education and/or work experience) A Master's degree in international criminal and/or humanitarian law, human rights law, or a related field, as well as a related master's or postgraduate degree, would be an asset. At least two years of relevant work experience in the field of human rights, preferably in drafting legal statements and reports. English language skills at the C1 level. The analyst will work within the framework of the project on documenting and analyzing the testimonies of victims and witnesses of enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention, and torture. The project is implemented in cooperation with the World Organization Against Torture (OMCT). As part of the project, a specialist can receive mentoring from OMCT on writing legal documents in international mechanisms and international advocacy. To participate in the competition, please send an email to jobs@mipl.org.ua with the subject line "Analyst."

The international community should start working on the practical release of civilian Ukrainians illegally detained by Russia. This was discussed during the side event “In Russia’s Captivity: Way to Freedom,” which occurred within the framework of the 31st OSCE Ministerial Council in Malta on December 5-6. The event, initiated by the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the OSCE and the Media Initiative for Human Rights, aimed to summarize the international community’s efforts on this issue and brought together more than 50 guests — representatives of OSCE participating states. The MIHR expresses deep gratitude to the witnesses Nariman Dzhelal and Olha Babych for their courage in repeatedly telling their stories to the world. We also thank the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the OSCE for organizing the event and the delegations of the partner states, without whose support it would not have been possible, namely 27 EU member states, Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Montenegro, Monaco, North Macedonia, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and the EU Delegation. The trip of MIHR to the OSCE Ministerial Conference was financially supported by the Czech organization People in Need, as part of the SOS Ukraine initiative. Read more: https://lnkd.in/edfe5wY4

Delegates of the Second International Crimea Global Conference from Mexico, Brazil, Sudan, and Iraq visited the village of Yahidne in the Chernihiv region. In March 2022, during the occupation of the area, Russian forces detained 368 local residents for 27 days in the basement of Yahidne’s school, using them as human shields for their headquarters, which was located on the school's ground floor. Due to suffocating conditions, a lack of adequate food, and medical care, 10 residents of Yahidne died. In the second part of the visit, the delegates participated in a panel discussion titled "Victims' Motivation in the Justice Process: Managing Expectations and Healing from Trauma", a special event organized by the Media Initiative for Human Rights and the Educational Human Rights House in Chernihiv. During the discussions, the event moderator, Olga Reshetylova, head of the Media Initiative for Human Rights, emphasized the critical role of victims in war crimes trials. However, the longer the judicial process lasts, the less interest victims tend to show. For instance, at the beginning of the in-absentia trial of those responsible for the tragedy in Yahidne, victims regularly attended court hearings. Yet, by the appeal stage, no one was present in the courtroom. “The justice process is complex, and without the support of specialized organizations, victims and witnesses, unable to navigate it on their own, lose motivation to participate,” Reshetylova explained. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eG4rfVaT

On November 21-22, 2024, Kyiv hosted the Second International Conference, Сrimea Global: Understanding Ukraine through the South. This year’s event gathered experts, analysts, journalists, scholars, and opinion leaders from various countries across Africa, Asia, South, and Central America, including India, Brazil, Iraq, Sudan, Mexico, Kenya, Ghana, Guinea, and others. They convened to discuss contemporary challenges and opportunities for cooperation with Ukraine. This was a unique and large-scale event aimed at fostering an exchange of experiences and visions among countries, disseminating information about Ukraine—particularly about Crimea as an inseparable part of it—and promoting the Peace Formula. The conference was held under the initiative of the Mission of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea/ Office of the Crimea Platform, with co-organizers including the Media Initiative for Human Rights, ZMINA Human Rights Center, PEN Ukraine, MFA of Ukraine, and the Hennadii Udovenko Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The event's partners included the Center for Information Resilience, Crimea_SOS, the Eastern European Institute of Development, and others. Despite security challenges, the event brought together more than 100 participants, including public figures, government officials, ambassadors, and representatives from countries in Africa, Asia, and South and Central America. Notably, the conference was attended by media representatives from 10 African countries. Participants learned about the current situation in Ukraine, the country’s fight for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and participated in discussions on ways to establish peace, restore justice, ensure global food security, address the situation in the Black Sea, and tackle human rights challenges in occupied territories. Special attention was given to Crimea during the conference. Crimea symbolizes Ukraine’s struggle against Russia’s colonial policies and is of particular importance in terms of food and energy security and overcoming colonialism. The conference included not only 6 panel discussions but also a series of trips by international participants to various regions of Ukraine, side events, and special activities in collaboration with the Transatlantic Dialogue Center, the Center for Information Resilience, CrimeaSOS, the ZMINA Human Rights Center, the Eastern European Institute of Development, the Maksym Kryvtsov Foundation, and PEN Ukraine. #CrimeaGlobal #CrimeaIsUkraine

On November 22, the closing ceremony of the Second International Conference Crimea Global: Understanding Ukraine through the South took place. Organizers and participants delivered closing remarks, summarizing two intensive days of discussions and expressing gratitude to all attendees for their attention and support of Ukraine during these challenging times. Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine Tamila Tasheva emphasized the importance of solidarity, noting that Ukraine has been enduring the full-scale war for nearly three years and has faced Russian aggression for a decade: "I sincerely thank everyone who came to Ukraine and supported us during these difficult days. We are experiencing tough times—every day, Ukraine faces the destruction of infrastructure and numerous civilian casualties. Yet, despite all this, we have successfully held this important and intensive event." She expressed gratitude to every participant of the conference, from speakers and moderators to volunteers and students who contributed to its organization. Tamila Tasheva emphasized that the event was not only about Crimea or Ukraine but also addressed global challenges: "We spoke about your countries, about shared problems. It seems that through such communication, we can achieve more for sustainable peace, both for Ukraine and the world." Ambassador-at-Large of the MFA of Ukraine, Rostyslav Tronenko, highlighted the global dimension of the conference and its title: "We hope that the solidarity and empathy you demonstrated today will support our defenders, the Crimean Tatars, Indigenous peoples, and minorities who are fighting for Ukraine and Crimea." The Ambassador reaffirmed Ukraine’s unwavering position on Crimea: "Crimea was, is, and will remain part of Ukraine. As President Zelenskyy said, we do not negotiate Ukraine’s territorial integrity." Tetiana Pechonchyk, Chair of the Board of the Human Rights Center ZMINA underlined the significance of the conference as a platform for exchanging ideas and strengthening international cooperation: "My dream is to host this conference again. Let Crimea Global happen once more!" The conference’s closing ceremony symbolized international solidarity with Ukraine, its global dimension, and a reminder of the importance of continued collaboration to address global challenges and achieve sustainable peace. The conference was organized on the initiative of the Mission of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea/Office of the Crimea Platform, with co-organizers including the Media Initiative for Human Rights, ZMINA Human Rights Center, PEN Ukraine and the MFA of Ukraine. Event partners included the Centre for Information Resilience, Crimea_SOS, and the East European Development Institute. Photo: Artem Galkin, Anastasiia Mantach

As part of the Second International Conference Crimea Global: Understanding Ukraine through the South, the second-panel discussion titled “Overcoming the Crisis: The Role of Asian, African, and Latin American Countries in Restoring the Effectiveness of International Organizations and Their Humanitarian Mission” took place. The discussion was moderated by Olha Reshetylova, head of the Media Initiative for Human Rights. She stated: “Russia’s armed aggression in Ukraine demonstrates the inability of international organizations to effectively respond to humanitarian crises, particularly in addressing the release of unlawfully detained civilians and deported children. During this panel discussion, we aim to explore whether non-Western countries can help overcome this humanitarian crisis.” The conversation began with the Ukrainian aspect. Dmytro Usov, Secretary of Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, explained that Ukraine is actively working to resolve the humanitarian crisis caused by Russian aggression. Efforts include both legislative measures and practical actions aimed at protecting citizens’ rights. For example, in March 2022, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War was established to handle issues related to the return of prisoners of war and civilians. He also emphasized that Ukraine expects understanding and support from non-Western countries, highlighting the current ineffectiveness of international organizations: “We want to see greater solidarity and more active participation in international initiatives that help protect civilians and military personnel and facilitate the return of our citizens home. This is about aiding Ukraine and upholding fundamental principles of humanity and international law.” Read more: https://lnkd.in/e4Hmsiyp

On November 21-22, Kyiv hosted the international the Сonference Crimea Global: Understanding Ukraine through the South. At the event's opening, the following speakers delivered welcoming remarks from Tamila Tasheva, Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. She extended her gratitude to participants from Asia, Africa, Central, and South America and emphasized the strategic importance of restoring Ukraine’s control over the Black Sea to ensure regional security and stability. Tasheva highlighted the significance of the Peace Formula proposed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a roadmap to liberate Crimea and secure lasting peace. “Crimea is not just a point on the map. It is a unique place that can serve as a platform for dialogue with countries in Asia, Africa, Central, and South America,” Tasheva remarked, urging the international community to support Ukraine in its struggle for freedom, dignity, and territorial integrity. Nariman Dzhelyal, First Deputy Head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, spoke about systematic human rights violations in occupied Crimea. Since 2014, Ukrainian citizens, particularly Crimean Tatars, have been subjected to political persecution, repression, and intimidation. Dzhelyal drew attention to the plight of political prisoners suffering from fabricated charges, torture, denial of medical care, and inhumane conditions in Russian prisons. He described these actions as a form of systemic genocide against the Crimean Tatar people, forcing thousands to flee their homeland. “Any attempts to allow Russia to retain occupied Ukrainian territories, including Crimea, mean continued repression against Ukrainian citizens. Accepting such proposals would abandon hundreds of thousands of innocent hostages to Russian rule. Therefore, our collective efforts must focus on supporting Ukraine’s Armed Forces and enhancing the state’s capacity to protect its citizens and reclaim its occupied territories,” Dzhelyal stressed. Olha Reshetylova, head of the NGO “Media Initiative for Human Rights”, noted the symbolic timing of the conference on the Day of Dignity and Freedom. She reflected on Ukraine’s enduring struggle for democracy, exemplified by the Orange Revolution and the Revolution of Dignity, and emphasized that this fight extends beyond modern history, spanning over four centuries. Reshetylova highlighted the distortions propagated by Russian propaganda, including false narratives about the occupation of Crimea and the conflict in Donbas. She underscored that Russia’s impunity for aggression in Chechnya, Georgia, Syria, and Africa paved the way for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, enabling the establishment of a global network of authoritarian regimes. Read more about the opening of the conference on the MIHR website: https://lnkd.in/eeBsX3VE

As part of the second international conference, Crimea Global: Understanding Ukraine through the South, a roundtable discussion took place in Odesa addressing regional challenges, Ukraine’s successes in the Black Sea, and the restoration of the grain corridor. Deputy Head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration, Dmytro Radulov, highlighted the challenges of operating under continuous attacks. He noted that the ongoing Russian aggression has destroyed irrigation systems and halted production in many sectors. "Ukraine is a major food exporter. However, due to the Russian aggression, we face a 60% loss in sunflower and corn production. Ukraine is the world's leading exporter of sunflower oil, and Odesa alone accounts for 11% of global exports. This has significantly impacted global markets, making the construction of new irrigation infrastructure a critical priority," said Radulov. Radulov also emphasized the region’s role as a refuge for over 100,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs), stressing the importance of creating infrastructure for displaced families, particularly for children. Yurii Lytvyn, Head of the USPA, discussed the consequences of Russian attacks on Ukrainian port infrastructure and presented the accomplishments of the Ukrainian Maritime Corridor despite the threats posed by Russian aggression. "Despite persistent enemy attacks on critical infrastructure, Ukrainian ports continue to operate. This is possible thanks to the professionalism of our port workers, the heroic defense provided by the Ukrainian Navy, and our constant focus on the safety of employees and seafarers. Since the maritime corridor’s inception, 3,118 ships have navigated it, processing 83.5 million tons of cargo, including 55.6 million tons of grain. This month alone, the ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk, and Pivdennyi have transshipped 4.1 million tons of cargo," Lytvyn stated. He further underscored the critical importance of international support and ongoing dialogue with global partners to sustain Ukraine’s maritime operations. A representative of the Ukrainian Navy highlighted the strategic importance of the Black Sea for global trade. He recalled the 2022 blockade of the Black Sea by the Russian fleet and its worldwide economic impact. Thanks to successful naval operations, Ukraine’s Security and Defense Forces have pushed the Russian fleet out of central areas of the Black Sea and Crimean ports, forcing it to retreat to Russian ports such as Novorossiysk and Anapa. During these operations, Ukraine has neutralized 28 Russian ships and one submarine. International participants expressed interest in the challenges of conducting business and trade amidst military aggression. They inquired about Ukraine’s efforts to maintain freedom of navigation in the Black Sea and sustain agricultural exports to global markets. #CrimeaGlobal #CrimeaIsUkraine

As part of the events on the occasion of the Second International Conference Crimea Global. Understanding Ukraine through the South, an excursion to the Center for Prosthetics, Orthotics and Rehabilitation "Without Limits" took place, which was founded by Nagender Parashar, a native from India, who has been living in Ukraine for over 10 years. The center was visited by experts and leaders of public opinion from the countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America, who visited Kyiv to participate in Crimea Global 2024. They saw with their own eyes how Ukraine uses modern technologies to bring back to life those who suffered as a result of Russian aggression against Ukraine. The excursion began with a demonstration of the process of preparation for the manufacture of prostheses, namely, how doctors take measurements and prepare for the creation of individual solutions for each patient. In specially equipped laboratories, they were shown the manufacture of prostheses from modern composite materials and advanced mechanical systems. After getting acquainted with the production processes, the participants visited the rehabilitation department. There they saw how Ukrainian military personnel, who lost their limbs as a result of hostilities, return to active life. A special impression was made by the physical and psychological training that the patients undergo. Among the demonstrated methods are special exercises, in particular sports, for adaptation to life with prostheses, training of coordination and restoration of mobility. International guests also had the opportunity to communicate with the Center's employees and military personnel undergoing rehabilitation. Medical staff shared success stories of their patients, talked about the challenges that arise in the work and how dedication to their work helps to achieve positive results. We would like to remind you that the conference Crimea Global: Understanding Ukraine through the South will take place on November 21-22. #CrimeaGlobal #CrimeaIsUkraine