'We must break the cycle of impunity for Russian troops': Ukrainian Nobel laureate O. Matviichuk

Key Concepts

• War Crimes Documentation: The systematic collection of evidence and testimonies related to atrocities committed during wartime.
• Impunity: Exemption from punishment or freedom from the injurious consequences of an action.
• Illegal Detention: The unlawful imprisonment of individuals, particularly civilians, by a state or occupying force.
• Sexual Abuse in Captivity: The use of sexual violence as a tool of torture and subjugation during detention.
• People First Campaign: An international advocacy effort to prioritize human well-being in political negotiations.
• Democratic Reforms: Processes aimed at strengthening democratic institutions and practices within a country.
• Hope: Defined not as a certainty of positive outcomes, but as the profound recognition of the significance of all efforts.

War Crimes Documentation and Accountability

Alexandra Martuk, head of the Human Rights Organization "Center for Civil Liberties Ukraine," which won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022, detailed the extensive efforts to document war crimes in Ukraine. Following the large-scale invasion, the Center united with dozens of organizations to form a national network of local documentarians covering the entire country, including occupied territories.

• Scale of Documentation: Jointly, they have documented over 91,000 episodes of war crimes. Martuk emphasized that this process aims to "return people their names" amidst the dehumanizing nature of war.
• Methodology: The documentation process involves gathering testimonies from victims and witnesses, deploying mobile groups to occupied territories, and analyzing open-source data with subsequent verification. For incidents like the bombing of a children's hospital in Kyiv, local documentarians are immediately dispatched to gather photographic, video, and testimonial evidence.
• Technological Advancements: Martuk highlighted the role of 21st-century digital tools in analyzing information, communicating with individuals in occupied areas, and identifying perpetrators, capabilities that were unimaginable during the Balkan wars.
• Argument for Accountability: Martuk expressed no doubt that accountability will be achieved. She argued that the current atrocities are a direct result of Russia's "total impunity" enjoyed for decades due to a lack of punishment for crimes committed in Chechnya, Moldova, Georgia, Mali, Libya, Syria, and other nations. She stressed the necessity of breaking this "circle of impunity" not only for Ukraine but also to prevent future Russian aggression.

Illegal Imprisonment and Torture

The Center for Civil Liberties Ukraine is also campaigning for the release of thousands of individuals illegally detained by Russia in both Russia and occupied Ukrainian territories.

• Scope of Illegal Detention: Russia is detaining civilians, which is a violation of international law, on an "enormous scope."
• Testimonies of Abuse: Martuk has personally interviewed hundreds of survivors of Russian captivity who recounted severe physical and sexual abuse, including beatings, rape, confinement in wooden boxes, finger mutilation, nail removal, nail drilling, and electrocution through the genitalia. One woman described her eye being "dragged out with a spoon."
• Urgency for Release: Given the severity of the abuse, Martuk stated that many of these individuals may not survive until any potential peace talks, underscoring the urgent need for their immediate release.

Women's Issues and Sexual Violence

Women's issues, particularly sexual abuse, are a significant focus of the Center's work.

• Widespread Sexual Abuse: Sexual abuse is described as "widespread in Russian prisons."
• Case Study of a Child and Mother: Martuk shared a poignant example of a five-year-old girl in Kyiv whose mother was abducted from occupied territory for showing empathy towards Ukraine. The mother was subjected to multiple gang rapes, illegally transported to Russia, and faced fabricated criminal charges. The girl, aware of Martuk's role as a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, pleaded for her mother's return, leaving Martuk feeling "broken" due to the limitations of her legal tools.

Advocacy and Raising Awareness

Martuk acknowledged that current efforts are insufficient and that many people, even in France, are unaware of the realities in occupied territories.

• "People First Campaign": To combat this, the Center has launched an international campaign called "People First," with support from NGOs in France. The campaign aims to mobilize public demand for prioritizing human well-being in all political negotiations.
• Overcoming Information Barriers: Martuk expressed gratitude for opportunities like the TV interview to raise awareness, recognizing the challenge of competing with numerous other global issues vying for attention.
• Strategic Importance of Ukraine: She argued that Western nations, particularly in the European Union, cannot afford to ignore the situation in Ukraine. The argument is that if Putin is not stopped in Ukraine, he will advance further, viewing Ukraine as a "bridge to Europe" and driven by a historical logic to forcibly restore the Russian empire, which she described as having a center but no borders and an inherent drive to expand.

Democratic Reforms in Ukraine

Martuk addressed the topic of democratic reforms within Ukraine, particularly in light of calls for elections.

• Ukrainian Agency in Democracy: She stated that Ukrainians do not need "lessons about election" and are not to be lectured on the matter. She referenced the 2004 Orange Revolution, where millions protested to protect their right to vote, demonstrating their deep value for elections.
• Constitutional Prohibition of Wartime Elections: Martuk clarified that holding elections during wartime is prohibited by the Ukrainian constitution, as it is in France. Elections can only be organized once the war ceases and security guarantees are in place, allowing for recovery and the implementation of democratic procedures.

Personal Motivation and Hope

Martuk shared what drives her personally and her perspective on hope.

• Inspiration from the People: She is inspired by the people of Ukraine, acknowledging that while she, as a human rights lawyer, lacks direct legal tools to stop atrocities, she can rely on the "much greater power" of ordinary people to change history.
• Defining Hope: Martuk redefined hope not as a "confidence that everything will be fine," but as a "deep understanding that all other efforts have a huge meaning."

The interview concluded with a reiteration of Martuk's role as head of the Center for Civil Liberties Ukraine and the significance of their Nobel Peace Prize recognition.