Tribunal for putin identifies 5,340 victims of enforced disappearances: Next steps for international action

The Tribunal for putin Initiative has documented 5,340 cases of enforced disappearances, submitting its findings to the International Criminal Court and a summary to the UN Working Group. Human rights activists are now calling for the ICC Prosecutor’s Office to engage directly with the victims, aiming to secure their testimonies against russia.

This development was highlighted at a press conference held at the Media Center Ukraine. 

Lawyer Hanna Ovdiienko stated, “We have relayed this crucial information to the International Criminal Court. The next anticipated step involves the ICC Prosecutor’s Office initiating direct contact with the victims, who have expressed willingness to participate. We hope this will culminate in these individuals testifying before the ICC against the russian federation.” The call for action underscores a critical phase in holding perpetrators accountable, with expectations set on international bodies to take decisive steps in addressing these human rights violations.

She emphasized that the submission focused exclusively on civilians who disappeared due to russia’s actions. The documents presented provide evidence that russia systematically employs enforced disappearances, primarily targeting individuals with pro-Ukrainian views, as well as those who served in the Ukrainian military, police, or civil service. The dossier also includes specific cases of enforced disappearances.

“We’ve gathered confirmed cases to illustrate both the patterns of behavior by russian authorities and their military and to compile as much evidence as possible,” said Hanna Ovdiienko. “These cases aren’t just supported by reports of missing persons; they include witness statements, physical evidence, and sometimes even surveillance footage captured at the time of the incidents.”

Read more: https://mediacenter.org.ua/news