DOCSLIB.ORG

The Situation of Human Rights Defenders and Civil Activists in Ukraine in 2020

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Situation of Human Rights Defenders and Civil Activists in Ukraine in 2020 THE SITUATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS AND CIVIL ACTIVISTS IN UKRAINE IN 2020 ANALYTICAL REPORT УДК 342.7:364-787.82](477)’’2020’’(042.5-028.45) С76 The situation of human rights defenders and civil activists in Ukraine in 2020: Analytical report / O. Vynohradova, A. Moskvychova, T. Pechonchyk, L. Yankina; ZMINA Human Rights Centre. – Kyiv, 2020. – 144 p. This report analyzes international documents, national law and the conditions in which the human rights and civil activities of individuals and organizations took place in the territory of Ukraine controlled by the government during 2020. It considers the key problems faced by human rights advocates and civil activists, list specific cases of persecution of human rights defenders and civil activists, particularly criminal, civil and administrative persecution, threats, cases of physical violence (including murder, beating and property damage), surveillance and discreditation campaigns, obstruction of peaceful gatherings, etc. The target audience of the report includes representatives of government bodies, international and intergovernmental organizations, journalists, human rights defenders and civil activists. The report has been prepared by the ZMINA Human Rights Centre as a part of the Increasing the Role and Protection of Human Rights Defenders in Ukraine project, in partnership with the Netherlands Helsinki Committee and with financial support by the European Union. The views of the report’s authors do not reflect the official position of the European Union. Cover photo: Law enforcement officers are kicking Oleksandr Kiryakov, a protester who is lying on the ground, on June 14, 2020, near the Shevchenkivsky District Court of Kyiv during a rally in support of the civil activist Serhiy Sternenko. Photo credit: Serhiy Nuzhnenko, Radio Svoboda. This publication may contain graphic depictions of incidents or victims of attacks or persecution which may shock, affect or provoke anxiety in some readers. ZMINA Human Rights Centre works in the field of protecting the freedom of speech, freedom of movement, opposing discrimination, preventing torture and cruel treatment, fighting impunity, supporting human rights defenders and activists in the Ukrainian territory, including the occupied Crimea, and defending the rights of people who have suffered from the armed conflict. The organization conducts information campaigns, education programs, works to monitor and document cases of human rights violations, prepares studies and analyses, and achieves change through national and international advocacy. See more details about ZMINA Human Rights Centre and its activities at: zmina.ua zmina.info Contacts for comments and suggestions Email: [email protected] ISBN 978-966-8620-31-7 © ZMINA Human Rights Centre, 2020 3 Contents 1. INTRODUCTION ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 5 2. STUDY SUMMARY �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 7 3. RECOMMENDATIONS ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 11 4. METHODOLOGY ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 17 5. GENERAL OVERVIEW OF THE SITUATION AND TRENDS OF 2020 ����������������������������� 23 a� Statistical data on the persecution of activists and human rights defenders in 2020 ���������������������������������������������������������������������������� 24 b� Threats to the digital security of human rights defenders and civil activists ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 27 c� Other defining trends for civil society ��������������������������������������������������������������������������� 28 i� Effects of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic on civil activism and human rights activities ������������������������������������������������ 28 ii� Discreditation of activism and the campaign against the “Sorosiata” ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 28 iii� Illegal actions by the police during peaceful gatherings ��������������������������� 30 iv� Local elections and civil activism �������������������������������������������������������������������� 31 d� The course of investigations and court trials of high-profile cases ���������������������� 32 i� Kateryna Handziuk’s case ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 32 ii� Iryna Nozdrovska’s case ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 34 iii� Serhiy Sternenko’s case ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 34 6. BRIEF OVERVIEW OF BILLS WHICH THREATEN CIVIL SOCIETY ��������������������������������� 37 7. BRIEF REVIEW OF CASES OF PERSECUTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS AND CIVIL ACTIVISTS ������������������������������������������������ 49 ANALYTICAL REPORT 4 List of Abbreviations ACOAB – Association of Co-owners of an Apartment Building AntAC – Anti-corruption Action Centre ASMA – Agency for Searching and Managing Assets Association of UMHRC – Association of Ukrainian Monitors of Human Rights Conduct in Law Enforcement CCU – Criminal Code of Ukraine CCU – Constitutional Court of Ukraine CSO – civil society organization DACK – District Administrative Court of Kyiv EBRD – European Bank for Reconstruction and Development ECHR – European Court of Human Rights EU – European Union HQCJ – High Qualifications Commission for Judges ITA – international technical aid JEC – Journalistic Ethics Commission KCSA – Kyiv City State Administration KIIA – Kyiv Institute of International Affairs of the Taras Shevchenko Kyiv National University KNU – Kyiv National University LGBTIQ – lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersexual, queer people MCU – Misdemeanor Code of Ukraine MIA – Ministry of Internal Affairs NABU – National Anti-corruption Bureau of Ukraine NaUKMA – National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy NGO – non-govermental organization ODIHR – Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights OP – Office of the President OPG – Office of the Prosecutor General OSCE – Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe PIC – Public Integrity Council PrJSC – private joint-stock company SACC – Supreme Anti-corruption Court of Ukraine SAP – Special Anti-corruption Prosecution SIB – State Investigation Bureau SSU – Security Service of Ukraine SOGI – sexual orientation and gender identity TaO – Tradition and Order TIC – Temporary Investigative Commission UHHRU – Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union UN – United Nations URPI – Unified State Registry of Pre-trial Investigations VR – Verkhovna Rada THE SITUATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS AND CIVIL ACTIVISTS IN UKRAINE IN 2020 1 INTRODUCTION 6 1 INTRODUCTION ■ A roundtable in Kyiv dedicated to the protection of civil activists, January 2020. Photo credits by Iryna Ivanchenko, ZMINA he team of the ZMINA Human Rights Centre gladly presents a monitoring report on the Tpressure and persecution of activists in 2020, created as a part of the Increasing the Role and Protection of Human Rights Defenders in Ukraine project. ZMINA implements this project in partnership with the Netherlands Helsinki Committee with financial support by the European Union. The purpose of this report is to evaluate the situation with persecution of and pressure on public activists in 2020, to describe the incidents which became known in this period. Given the existence of an urgent problem of protecting civil society actors, the main purpose of this report is to discover gaps in legislation and the work of law enforcement agencies, provide full and up-to-date information about the situation with persecution of and pressure on human rights defenders and activists to representatives of the government, media, international missions and partners, and the wider public. In the context of decentralization, mobilization of efforts in the solidarity struggle against the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, socioeconomic perturbations, the topic of persecution of activists and human rights defenders, as well as impunity for this persecution, has been gaining increased relevance for the promotion and advocacy of human rights standards, monitoring of the government’s fulfillment of its obligations, and protection of social interests. We hope that the information described in the report will be useful for analyzing and drawing conclusions about the security climate for human rights defenders and civil activists working in the territory controlled by the Ukrainian government. THE SITUATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS AND CIVIL ACTIVISTS IN UKRAINE IN 2020 2 STUDY SUMMARY 8 2 STUDY SUMMARY THE SITUATION WITH THE PERSECUTION OF ACTIVISTS AND HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS IN 2020 In total, ZMINA recorded 101 cases of persecution for civil activism or actions in defense of human rights in 2020. The months with the highest numbers of cases were February (11), September (13) and December (12); August and November had the fewest incidents, 5 each. The quarantine restrictions in the spring months did not reduce the scope and intensity of persecution; in particular, in this period, we recorded misuse of attempts at charging activists with misdemeanors for holding peaceful gatherings, most of which were later cancelled by courts of various
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Committed During the Armed Conflict in Eastern Ukraine Between 2014–2018
    VIOLENT CRIMES Committed During the Armed Conflict in Eastern Ukraine between 2014–2018 Kharkiv Human Rights Publisher 2018 УДК 355.012АТО(477)’’2014/2018’’(047)=111 Н31 THE List OF abbreviations This report was prepared with financial support of AI — Amnesty International; MTOT — Ministry of Temporarily Occupied Terri- tories and Internally Displaced Persons; ATO — Anti-Terrorist Operation; NGO — Non-Governmental Organization CC — Criminal Code of Ukraine; NPU — National Police of Ukraine; CMA — Civil-Military Administration; OTDLR — Occupied Territories of Donetsk and Lu- СMPO — Chief Military Prosecutor’s Office; hansk Regions; СP — Checkpoint; OSCE — Organization for Security and Coopera- CPC — Criminal Procedural Code; tion in Europe; EXCP — Entry-Exit Checkpoint; PLWHA — People Living with HIV/AIDS; DSA — District State Administration; RSA — Regional State Administration; RS — Rome Statute; ECHR — European Convention on Human Rights; Yuriy Aseev, Volodymyr Hlushchenko, Boris Knyrov, Natalia Okhotnikova, Anna Ovdiienko, LNR — the self-proclaimed “Luhansk People’s ECtHR — European Court of Human Rights; Olena Richko, Gennady Shcherbak, Pavlo Shvab, Yanina Smelyanska, Igor Sosonsky, Republic”; Gennadiy Tokarev, Martha Vovk, Anastasia Yegorova, Yevgeniy Zakharov GC — Geneva Convention(s) of 12 August 1949; DNR — the self-proclaimed “Donetsk People’s Н31 Violent Crimes Committed During the Armed Conflict in Eastern Ukraine between 2014–2018 / HRMM — UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission Republic”; compiler Yevgeniy Zakharov; CO “Kharkiv
    [Show full text]
  • Civil Service Professionalisation in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine
    CIVIL SERVICE PROFESSIONALISATION IN ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN, GEORGIA, MOLDOVA AND UKRAINE November 2014 Salvador Parrado 2 Rue André Pascal This SIGMA Paper has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. SIGMA Papers should not be 75775 Paris Cedex 16 reported as representing the official views of the EU, the OECD or its member countries, or of beneficiaries participating in the France SIGMA Programme. The opinions expressed and arguments employed are those of the author(s). SIGMA Papers describe preliminary results or research in progress by the author(s) and are published to stimulate discussion on mailto:[email protected] a broad range of issues on which the EU and the OECD work. Comments on Working Papers are welcomed, and may be sent to Tel: +33 (0) 1 45 24 82 00 SIGMA-OECD, 2 rue André-Pascal, 75775 Paris Cedex 16, France. Fax: +33 (0) 1 45 24 13 05 This document and any map included herein are without prejudice to the status of or sovereignty over any territory, to the www.sigmaweb.org delimitation of international frontiers and boundaries and to the name of any territory, city or area. TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..................................................................................................................................... 5 The scope of the civil service ....................................................................................................................... 5 The institutional set-up for consistent and effective human resource management practices ................
    [Show full text]
  • Fascism, Russia, and Ukraine by Timothy Snyder | the New York Review of Books Page 1 of 8
    Fascism, Russia, and Ukraine by Timothy Snyder | The New York Review of Books Page 1 of 8 Font Size: A A A March 20, 2014 Issue Fascism, Russia, and Ukraine Timothy Snyder This article will appear in the coming March 20, 2014 issue of The New York Review. Valery Sharifulin/ITAR-TASS/Corbis The opposition leader Vitali Klitschko attending a protest rally in Maidan square, Kiev, December 16, 2013 The students were the first to protest against the regime of President Viktor Yanukovych on the Maidan, the central square in Kiev, last November. These were the Ukrainians with the most to lose, the young people who unreflectively thought of themselves as Europeans and who wished for themselves a life, and a Ukrainian homeland, that were European. Many of them were politically on the left, some of them radically so. After years of negotiation and months of promises, their government, under President Yanukovych, had at the last moment failed to sign a major trade agreement with the European Union. When the riot police came and beat the students in late November, a new group, the Afghan veterans, came to the Maidan. These men of middle age, former soldiers and officers of the Red Army, many of them bearing the scars of battlefield wounds, came to protect “their children,” as they put it. They didn’t mean their own sons and http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2014/mar/20/fascism-russia-and-ukraine/?... 20/02/2014 Fascism, Russia, and Ukraine by Timothy Snyder | The New York Review of Books Page 2 of 8 daughters: they meant the best of the youth, the pride and future of the country.
    [Show full text]
  • Ukrainian Civil Society from the Orange Revolution to Euromaidan: Striving for a New Social Contract
    In: IFSH (ed.), OSCE Yearbook 2014, Baden-Baden 2015, pp. 219-235. Iryna Solonenko Ukrainian Civil Society from the Orange Revolution to Euromaidan: Striving for a New Social Contract This is the Maidan generation: too young to be burdened by the experi- ence of the Soviet Union, old enough to remember the failure of the Orange Revolution, they don’t want their children to be standing again on the Maidan 15 years from now. Sylvie Kauffmann, The New York Times, April 20141 Introduction Ukrainian civil society became a topic of major interest with the start of the Euromaidan protests in November 2013. It has acquired an additional dimen- sion since then, as civil society has pushed for reforms following the ap- pointment of the new government in February 2014, while also providing as- sistance to the army and voluntary battalions fighting in the east of the coun- try and to civilian victims of the war. In the face of the weakness of the Ukrainian state, which is still suffering from a lack of political will, poor governance, corruption, military weakness, and dysfunctional law enforce- ment – many of those being in part Viktor Yanukovych’s legacies – civil so- ciety and voluntary activism have become a driver of reform and an import- ant mobilization factor in the face of external aggression. This contribution examines the transformation of Ukrainian civil society during the period between the 2004 Orange Revolution and the present day. Why this period? The Orange Revolution and the Euromaidan protests are landmarks in Ukraine’s post-independence state-building and democratiza- tion process, and analysis of the transformation of Ukrainian civil society during this period offers interesting findings.2 Following a brief portrait of Ukrainian civil society and its evolution, the contribution examines the rela- tionships between civil society and three other actors: the state, the broader society, and external actors involved in supporting and developing civil soci- ety in Ukraine.
    [Show full text]
  • QUARTERLY ACTIVITIES REPORT of Civic Network OPORA for the Period 1 July – 30 September, 2014
    01103, Kyiv, Pidvysotskoho St. 10/10, office 3 www.oporaua.org, [email protected] +38 044 286 26 70 QUARTERLY ACTIVITIES REPORT of Civic Network OPORA For the Period 1 July – 30 September, 2014 1 01103, Kyiv, Pidvysotskoho St. 10/10, office 3 www.oporaua.org, [email protected] +38 044 286 26 70 CONTENT SUMMARY ..................................................................................................................................................... 4 Political framework ................................................................................................................................... 4 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES ................................................................................................................................... 5 Objective 1: Fairness and integrity of key Ukrainian elections improved through domestic monitoring … 4 Long-term observation ............................................................................................................................. 5 Public reports covering long-term parliamentary observation: ............................................................... 6 Preparation of a questionnaire ................................................................................................................. 6 Software development ............................................................................................................................. 7 REPORT ON OPORA’s PUBLIC OUTREACH AND INFORMATION STRATEGYINFORMATION REPORT OF THE CIVIC NETWORK OPORA FROM 1 JULY
    [Show full text]
  • The Annals of UVAN, Vol . V-VI, 1957, No. 4 (18)
    THE ANNALS of the UKRAINIAN ACADEMY of Arts and Sciences in the U. S. V o l . V-VI 1957 No. 4 (18) -1, 2 (19-20) Special Issue A SURVEY OF UKRAINIAN HISTORIOGRAPHY by Dmytro Doroshenko Ukrainian Historiography 1917-1956 by Olexander Ohloblyn Published by THE UKRAINIAN ACADEMY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES IN THE U.S., Inc. New York 1957 EDITORIAL COMMITTEE DMITRY CIZEVSKY Heidelberg University OLEKSANDER GRANOVSKY University of Minnesota ROMAN SMAL STOCKI Marquette University VOLODYMYR P. TIM OSHENKO Stanford University EDITOR MICHAEL VETUKHIV Columbia University The Annals of the Ukrainian Academy of Arts and Sciences in the U. S. are published quarterly by the Ukrainian Academy of Arts and Sciences in the U.S., Inc. A Special issue will take place of 2 issues. All correspondence, orders, and remittances should be sent to The Annals of the Ukrainian Academy of Arts and Sciences in the U. S. ПУ2 W est 26th Street, New York 10, N . Y. PRICE OF THIS ISSUE: $6.00 ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION PRICE: $6.00 A special rate is offered to libraries and graduate and undergraduate students in the fields of Slavic studies. Copyright 1957, by the Ukrainian Academy of Arts and Sciences in the U.S.} Inc. THE ANNALS OF THE UKRAINIAN ACADEMY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES IN THE U.S., INC. S p e c i a l I s s u e CONTENTS Page P r e f a c e .......................................................................................... 9 A SURVEY OF UKRAINIAN HISTORIOGRAPHY by Dmytro Doroshenko In tr o d u c tio n ...............................................................................13 Ukrainian Chronicles; Chronicles from XI-XIII Centuries 21 “Lithuanian” or West Rus’ C h ro n ic le s................................31 Synodyky or Pom yannyky..........................................................34 National Movement in XVI-XVII Centuries and the Revival of Historical Tradition in Literature .........................
    [Show full text]
  • Constructions and Instrumentalization of the Past: a Comparative Study on Memory Management in the Region
    CBEES State of the Region Report 2020 Constructions and Instrumentalization of the Past A Comparative Study on Memory Management in the Region Published with support from the Foundation for Baltic and East European Studies (Östersjstiftelsen) Constructions and Instrumentalization of the Past A Comparative Study on Memory Management in the Region December 2020 Publisher Centre for Baltic and East European Studies, CBEES, Sdertrn University © CBEES, Sdertrn University and the authors Editor Ninna Mrner Editorial Board Joakim Ekman, Florence Frhlig, David Gaunt, Tora Lane, Per Anders Rudling, Irina Sandomirskaja Layout Lena Fredriksson, Serpentin Media Proofreading Bridget Schaefer, Semantix Print Elanders Sverige AB ISBN 978-91-85139-12-5 4 Contents 7 Preface. A New Annual CBEES Publication, Ulla Manns and Joakim Ekman 9 Introduction. Constructions and Instrumentalization of the Past, David Gaunt and Tora Lane 15 Background. Eastern and Central Europe as a Region of Memory. Some Common Traits, Barbara Trnquist-Plewa ESSAYS 23 Victimhood and Building Identities on Past Suffering, Florence Frhlig 29 Image, Afterimage, Counter-Image: Communist Visuality without Communism, Irina Sandomirskaja 37 The Toxic Memory Politics in the Post-Soviet Caucasus, Thomas de Waal 45 The Flag Revolution. Understanding the Political Symbols of Belarus, Andrej Kotljarchuk 55 Institutes of Trauma Re-production in a Borderland: Poland, Ukraine, and Lithuania, Per Anders Rudling COUNTRY BY COUNTRY 69 Germany. The Multi-Level Governance of Memory as a Policy Field, Jenny Wstenberg 80 Lithuania. Fractured and Contested Memory Regimes, Violeta Davoliūtė 87 Belarus. The Politics of Memory in Belarus: Narratives and Institutions, Aliaksei Lastouski 94 Ukraine. Memory Nodes Loaded with Potential to Mobilize People, Yuliya Yurchuk 106 Czech Republic.
    [Show full text]
  • Seventh Periodic Report of Ukraine on Implementation of the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman Or Degrading Treatment Or Punishment
    SEVENTH PERIODIC REPORT OF UKRAINE ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE AND OTHER CRUEL, INHUMAN OR DEGRADING TREATMENT OR PUNISHMENT • KHARKIV KHARKIV HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION GROUP 2021 This publication was made as part of the project “Promoting freedom from torture and the right of prisoners to medical care in Ukraine on the basis of international human rights standards”, funded by the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Ukraine. and the European Union Project “Fight against torture, ill-treatment and impunity in Ukraine” Seventh Periodic Report of Ukraine on Implementation of the Convention against Tor- ture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment / Y. Zakharov, G. To- karev: compilation; CO «Kharkiv Human Rights Protection group». — «Kharkiv: 2021. — 102 p. © Y. Zakharov, G. Tokarev, compilation, 2021 © CO «Kharkiv Human Rights Protection group», 2021 SEVENTH PERIODIC REPORT OF UKRAINE ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE AND OTHER CRUEL, INHUMAN OR DEGRADING TREATMENT OR PUNISHMENT Contents Page ABBreVIatIONS/GLOSSary ....................................................................................................................... 4 INtroDuctION ............................................................................................................................................ 5 FOLLOW-up QueSTIONS froM the preVIouS reportING cycLE ...................................................... 6 Questions 1–9 — Responses to UN issues “List of issues before the reporting”
    [Show full text]
  • A Guide to the Archival and Manuscript Collection of the Ukrainian Academy of Arts and Sciences in the U.S., New York City
    Research Report No. 30 A GUIDE TO THE ARCHIVAL AND MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION OF THE UKRAINIAN ACADEMY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES IN THE U.S., NEW YORK CITY A Detailed Inventory Yury Boshyk Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies University of Alberta Edmonton 1988 Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies University of Alberta Occasional Research Reports Publication of this work is made possible in part by a grant from the Stephania Bukachevska-Pastushenko Archival Endowment Fund. The Institute publishes research reports periodically. Copies may be ordered from the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies, 352 Athabasca Hall, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E8. The name of the publication series and the substantive material in each issue (unless otherwise noted) are copyrighted by the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies. PRINTED IN CANADA Occasional Research Reports A GUDE TO THE ARCHIVAL AND MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION OF THE UKRAINIAN ACADEMY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES IN THE U.S., NEW YORK CITY A Detailed Inventory Yury Boshyk Project Supervisor Research Report No. 30 — 1988 Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies University of Alberta Edmonton, Alberta Dr . Yury Boshyk Project Supervisor for The Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies Research Assistants Marta Dyczok Roman Waschuk Andrij Wynnyckyj Technical Assistants Anna Luczka Oksana Smerechuk Lubomyr Szuch In Cooperation with the Staff of The Ukrainian Academy of Arts and Sciences in the U.S. Dr. William Omelchenko Secretary General and Director of the Museum-Archives Halyna Efremov Dima Komilewska Uliana Liubovych Oksana Radysh Introduction The Ukrainian Academy of Arts and Sciences in the United States, New York City, houses the most comprehensive and important archival and manuscript collection on Ukrainians outside Ukraine.
    [Show full text]
  • International Crimes in Crimea
    International Crimes in Crimea: An Assessment of Two and a Half Years of Russian Occupation SEPTEMBER 2016 Contents I. Introduction 6 A. Executive summary 6 B. The authors 7 C. Sources of information and methodology of documentation 7 II. Factual Background 8 A. A brief history of the Crimean Peninsula 8 B. Euromaidan 12 C. The invasion of Crimea 15 D. Two and a half years of occupation and the war in Donbas 23 III. Jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court 27 IV. Contextual elements of international crimes 28 A. War crimes 28 B. Crimes against humanity 34 V. Willful killing, murder and enforced disappearances 38 A. Overview 38 B. The law 38 C. Summary of the evidence 39 D. Documented cases 41 E. Analysis 45 F. Conclusion 45 VI. Torture and other forms of inhuman treatment 46 A. Overview 46 B. The law 46 C. Summary of the evidence 47 D. Documented cases of torture and other forms of inhuman treatment 50 E. Analysis 59 F. Conclusion 59 VII. Illegal detention 60 A. Overview 60 B. The law 60 C. Summary of the evidence 62 D. Documented cases of illegal detention 66 E. Analysis 87 F. Conclusion 87 VIII. Forced displacement 88 A. Overview 88 B. The law 88 C. Summary of evidence 90 D. Analysis 93 E. Conclusion 93 IX. Crimes against public, private and cultural property 94 A. Overview 94 B. The law 94 C. Summary of evidence 96 D. Documented cases 99 E. Analysis 110 F. Conclusion 110 X. Persecution and collective punishment 111 A. Overview 111 B.
    [Show full text]
  • The Forgotten Fronts the First World War Battlefield Guide: World War Battlefield First the the Forgotten Fronts Forgotten The
    Ed 1 Nov 2016 1 Nov Ed The First World War Battlefield Guide: Volume 2 The Forgotten Fronts The First Battlefield War World Guide: The Forgotten Fronts Creative Media Design ADR005472 Edition 1 November 2016 THE FORGOTTEN FRONTS | i The First World War Battlefield Guide: Volume 2 The British Army Campaign Guide to the Forgotten Fronts of the First World War 1st Edition November 2016 Acknowledgement The publisher wishes to acknowledge the assistance of the following organisations in providing text, images, multimedia links and sketch maps for this volume: Defence Geographic Centre, Imperial War Museum, Army Historical Branch, Air Historical Branch, Army Records Society,National Portrait Gallery, Tank Museum, National Army Museum, Royal Green Jackets Museum,Shepard Trust, Royal Australian Navy, Australian Defence, Royal Artillery Historical Trust, National Archive, Canadian War Museum, National Archives of Canada, The Times, RAF Museum, Wikimedia Commons, USAF, US Library of Congress. The Cover Images Front Cover: (1) Wounded soldier of the 10th Battalion, Black Watch being carried out of a communication trench on the ‘Birdcage’ Line near Salonika, February 1916 © IWM; (2) The advance through Palestine and the Battle of Megiddo: A sergeant directs orders whilst standing on one of the wooden saddles of the Camel Transport Corps © IWM (3) Soldiers of the Royal Army Service Corps outside a Field Ambulance Station. © IWM Inside Front Cover: Helles Memorial, Gallipoli © Barbara Taylor Back Cover: ‘Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red’ at the Tower of London © Julia Gavin ii | THE FORGOTTEN FRONTS THE FORGOTTEN FRONTS | iii ISBN: 978-1-874346-46-3 First published in November 2016 by Creative Media Designs, Army Headquarters, Andover.
    [Show full text]
  • Connecting the Dots of PMC Wagner Strategic Actor Or Mere Business Opportunity? Author: Niklas M
    University of Southern Denmark 1 June 2019 Faculty of Business and Social Sciences Connecting the dots of PMC Wagner Strategic actor or mere business opportunity? Author: Niklas M. Rendboe Date of birth: 04.07.1994 Characters: 187.484 Supervisor: Olivier Schmitt Abstract Russia has commenced a practice of using military companies to implement its foreign policy. This model is in part a continuation of a Russian tradition of using non-state act- ors, and partly a result of the contemporary thinking in Russia about war and politics as well as a consequence of the thorough reform process of the Russian military which began in 2008 under Anatolii Serdiukov. By using the subcontracting firms of business leader Evgenii Prigozhin as a channel for funding Wagner, the Kremlin has gained an armed structure which is relatively independent of its ocial military structures. The group was formed as part of a project to mobilise volunteers to fight in Ukraine in 2014- 15. The following year, Wagner went to Syria and made a valuable contribution to the Assad government’s eort to re-establish dominance in the Syrian theatre. Since then, evidence has surfaced pointing to 11 additional countries of operations. Of these, Libya, Sudan, Central Africa and Madagascar are relatively well supported. In all these coun- tries, Wagner’s ability to operate are dependent on Russia for logistics, contracts and equipment. Wagner is first and foremost a tool of Russian realpolitik; they will not win wars nor help bring about a new world order, but they further strategic interests in two key ways; they deploy to war where Russia has urgent interests, and they operate in countries where the interests of Russia are more diuse and long-term to enhance Rus- sian influence.
    [Show full text]