Wow! Intl Criminal Court “has concluded that there is a reasonable basis at this time to believe that a broad range of conduct constituting war crimes and crimes against humanity within the jurisdiction of the Court have been committed in the context of the situation in Ukraine.”
Continued: “These findings... include three broad clusters of victimisation: (i) crimes committed in the context of the conduct of hostilities; (ii) crimes committed during detentions; and (iii) crimes committed in Crimea.”
This is really a big deal for Ukraine. The ICC is talking about full investigations of "alleged crimes committed on the territory of Ukraine from 20 February 2014 onwards." That includes Maidan massacre, potentially crimes against Crimean Tatars, crimes committed in Donbas, etc.
This means the ICC will be looking at alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity carried out by Russia/Russians and the Kremlin's proxies on Ukrainian territory. Huge win and an early New Year's gift for Kyiv.
The list of potential war crimes committed by Russia and its proxies in Ukraine and against Ukrainians is long. But here's one example—extrajudicial killings. My colleagues and I documented (w/ docs and interviews) executions by firing squad in July 2014. rferl.org/a/the-executio…
Some clarification: I'm speaking to war crimes experts & lawyers now to better understand ICC decision & it does mean that all potential crimes will be investigated, meaning those allegedly committed by Ukraine, as well as non-state actors on all sides.
If you're curious what could be investigated as war crimes & crimes against humanity on Ukrainian side, I'd imagine things like Azov & Aidar battalions' alleged torture of detainees in 2014; probably SBU detentions & alleged torture of citizens accused of spying/Russia sympathy.
And, hopefully, the ICC will look at Oleh Lyashko's and his gang's extrajudicial murders of non-combatants in Torez, which I documented on the scene on May 23, 2014. kyivpost.com/article/conten…
Reaction from Ukraine's foreign minister:
@DmytroKuleba calls the ICC decision "historic" and says, "International justice may not be served fast, but it is surely inevitable. One day Russian criminals will face trial."
In Ukraine, where past elections have been tainted by fraud and poisonings and colored by bizarre livestreamed drug screenings, an official inside President Zelensky’s administration described the US election as “crazy” and “totally toxic.” buzzfeednews.com/article/christ…
Ever the diplomat, Lithuanian FM @LinkeviciusL told me the political unrest in the US “looks very unusual.”
“We’re not used to this sight. We hope and expect the United States will solve this, not only for the sake of the US, but for others,” he said.
No, @thedailybeast, this is NOT new. The laptop Derkach is discussing does NOT include any evidence to support accusations against the Bidens. It was presented last month during a press conference in Kyiv. I’ve seen the info he claims it holds; nothing verifiable there.
Here’s Derkach just this week again telling me about his laptop. (And yes, even though we chat and speak in Russian he has an aide translate things into English from time to time.)
“We are heartbroken to report the death of an American member of the @USEmbassyKyiv community. Officials from U.S. Embassy Kyiv are currently working with authorities to determine the circumstances of the death,” the embassy told @BuzzFeedNews. buzzfeednews.com/article/christ…
@USEmbassyKyiv@BuzzFeedNews Where the American woman was found is less than a mile west of the US embassy. The below map will give you a sense of how close it is. (Location found on the left; embassy right of the park edge) The embassy is a heavily guarded compound with guards and police around 24/7.
American woman working for @USEmbassyKyiv was found unconscious with head wound today; she was rushed to hospital but died, Ukrainian police sources tell me. Investigation underway; unclear if accident or attack. She was wearing jogging clothes, earbuds, found near train tracks.
@USEmbassyKyiv Kyiv police have released a statement saying they're looking for a person of interest: a man with dark hair, 30-40 years old, around 6 feet tall, dressed in black shorts, dark blue sneakers and a T-shirt. kyiv.npu.gov.ua/news/novini/po…
The US Embassy declined to comment. I've reached out to the State Department for information.
For Donbas watchers: This has many in Ukraine worried. "I haven't seen a single confirmation that Russia is waging a war against Ukraine," says Vitold Fokin, newly appointed dep head of Ukraine delegation to Minsk group meant to facilitate end to the war. pravda.com.ua/news/2020/09/2…
Fokin's comments have been widely condemned in Ukraine. Russia's direct involvement in the war in the Donbas has been documented in great detail. Now a group of MPs wants Zelensky to condemn Fokin's remarks and fire him. en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/6…
Now Zelensky's own chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, and Ukraine's powerful interior minister, Arsen Avakov, are calling for Fokin, who served as the country's first PM, to be fired. Avakov went so far as to call him an "idiot" and said he should be put into retirement again.
A Ukrainian military AN-26 plane reportedly crashed during a training flight in the eastern Kharkiv region. No word on victims. kh.depo.ua/rus/kh/pid-kha…
Purported video of the crash site in Kharkiv region.
General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirms the crash and says there are dead and wounded cadets involved. facebook.com/GeneralStaff.u…