War and justice

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Following the MIHR`s story, the Ukrainian flag was installed on the grave of a tortured ATO participant from the Mykolaiv region

Recently, the Media Initiative for Human Rights told about the trial of a resident of the village […]

14 September 2023

“No one was running away.” Former head of Kharkiv Security Service says he is suing SBI, SSU, and the Prosecutor General’s Office

Roman Dudin, the former head of the Kharkiv Security Service, is accused of high treason — allegedly […]

24 August 2023

Punishment for helping Russia and conviction of a Russian military servant: verdicts in war-related cases emerged in July

The monitoring of war-related court cases conducted by the MIHR reveals a trend towards a decrease in the number of sentences under Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine ― violations of the laws and customs of war. In July, only one such sentence appeared in the register of court decisions. However, according to the Prosecutor General's Office, over 100,000 crimes have already been recorded under this article, with investigations underway.

18 August 2023