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War and justice

Without Lawyers and Witnesses: How Russia Ignores the Rights of Imprisoned Ukrainians to a Fair Trial and What This Means for the Aggressor Country
Without Lawyers and Witnesses: How Russia Ignores the Rights of Imprisoned Ukrainians to a Fair Trial and What This Means for the Aggressor Country

The MIHR asked Maksym Tymochko, an officer of the International Law Department of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, why Russia ignores the immunity of a combatant, how the case against Nazi lawyers in Germany will help Ukraine, and why the enemy changed its strategy in its trials of the Azov fighters.

24 June 2024

We call on the Verkhovna Rada not to adopt draft law № 7033-d, which limits access to court decisions
We call on the Verkhovna Rada not to adopt draft law № 7033-d, which limits access to court decisions

On May 2, 2024, the Parliamentary Legal Committee reviewed and endorsed draft law No. 7033-д for parliamentary consideration. This draft law limits access to information and decisions within the register of court decisions, which hold substantial public interest and are crucial for public oversight of law enforcement activities. The proposed changes undermine the principles of a democratic society and contradict Ukraine’s commitments to European integration.

16 May 2024

Genocide in Srebrenica: History Lessons for Ukraine
Genocide in Srebrenica: History Lessons for Ukraine

On 11 July 1995, over eight thousand Bosnian Muslims — men and boys — were captured and killed by the forces and police of Bosnian Serbs near the town of Srebrenica. The planned and organized massacre of people on religious and ethnic grounds is still considered the largest in Europe since World War II.

30 April 2024

Despair or search for justice: why victims of war crimes participate in court hearings
Despair or search for justice: why victims of war crimes participate in court hearings

On March 20, the MIHR presented an analytical study on victims' legal status, experience, and motivation in war crimes cases. This is the first such study in Ukraine. The research consists of a theoretical part about the experience of other countries in working with victims of war crimes, an analysis of national legislation, and a practical part where the team summarizes the experience of victims whose cases are already in courts or under active investigation. 

20 March 2024

The Case of Leontyev and Motuzenko: How People Were Abducted and Tortured in Nova Kakhovka
The Case of Leontyev and Motuzenko: How People Were Abducted and Tortured in Nova Kakhovka

A court in Odesa is examining one of the first cases involving the capture and illegal detention of Ukrainian civilians in the occupied territories. The trial is against the so-called occupation “mayor” of Nova Kakhovka and an “aide to the head of the DPR”. Among the victims are residents of Kherson Region.

30 January 2024

Testimony and trauma. Alma Taso Deljkovic on how trauma affects the judicial process and how to work with it in Ukraine
Testimony and trauma. Alma Taso Deljkovic on how trauma affects the judicial process and how to work with it in Ukraine

Psychologist Alma Taso Deljkovic is one of those who joined the creation of a victim support system […]

23 January 2024

The case of Izoliatsiia. Prosecutor Taras Semkiv on Kulykovskyi’s (non-life) sentence, working with victims, and imperfect legislation
The case of Izoliatsiia. Prosecutor Taras Semkiv on Kulykovskyi’s (non-life) sentence, working with victims, and imperfect legislation

Taras Semkiv is the Deputy Head of the Department for Combating Crimes Committed in the Context of Armed Conflict, Office of the Prosecutor General. He led a team of five prosecutors who prosecuted the case of Denys Kulykovskyi after his detention. The case estimated 22 victims.

15 January 2024

War. Justice. Media. How to report on war-related trials: MIHR Guide
War. Justice. Media. How to report on war-related trials: MIHR Guide

On November 24, the Media Initiative for Human Rights presented a manual on covering war crimes courts. It consists of a theoretical framework and practical advice on how to cover court hearings, communicate with the parties to the process, and adhere to the ethical framework.

28 November 2023

Kharkiv: Local man sentenced to life in prison for passing coordinates of regional state administration to Russians
Kharkiv: Local man sentenced to life in prison for passing coordinates of regional state administration to Russians

The Kyiv District Court of Kharkiv declared Kharkiv resident Denys Panikarov guilty of high treason.

15 November 2023

“Teaching to love Russia.” How Ukrainian courts punish collaborators in education
“Teaching to love Russia.” How Ukrainian courts punish collaborators in education

A new school year has begun. For the occupied territories, this means portraits of Putin and Russian flags in educational institutions, the quest "In Search of Symbols of Russia" with a birch tree, a nesting doll, and a bear, and poems by schoolchildren about "Russians who are ready to fight in a fair fight." This is part of the Russian educational programs they are trying to impose on the occupied territories.

27 September 2023

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