Thread by @JParker_tw

@AnnaPartisanka 5. Presently, Dr. Anna needs a break. This hearing and the video that came with it, is overwhelming for anyone. But dr. Anna has seen first hand the crimes of Russian invaders. She asked me to let you all know she can’t keep tweeting right now. It is hitting her too hard.

@AnnaPartisanka 6. Taira: “city of half million people died before my eyes. Air strikes. Methodical. Hospital full of civilians. Drugs have run out. Antibiotics too. Entire medical staff sleeping 2-3 hours daily. Medevac cars arrive every 5-10 minutes, wounded & dead lying on top of one another”

@AnnaPartisanka 6. “Dogs dragging off human limbs. Civilians made to take off clothes by Russians.”
(I can’t keep up…
Now she’s describing detention)
“Specially equipped torture chambers… like the Middle Ages. I’m a witness.”
She describes soldiers dying in cells and bodies being left there.

@AnnaPartisanka “This is ww3. Until the understanding of this war becomes global, Russia keeps rising up again killing citizens. Our sacrifice is to stop this world war… history will go full circle if nothing is changed.”
She’s in tears & doesn’t speak Eng but reading her written testimony 💔

@AnnaPartisanka 8. “It is convenient for the Russians to transfer responsibility to the so-called DNR/LNR to avoid retribution but everyone knows nothing is done without orders from Moscow and blessing from special services. World needs to insist facilitation of UN and ICRC mission to prisoners”

@AnnaPartisanka 9. She is asking international leaders to push harder for negotiations of prisoner exchange and release. Next she will talk about Russian propaganda. “We must change Moscow narratives or it will deny people victory in their hearts and minds which is just as important”

@AnnaPartisanka 10. Taira thanks US support for 🇺🇦 fight to survive. Asks to continue support in economic and military, also designate 🇷🇺 As state sponsor of terror, recognize this aggression as #GENOCIDE and to keep supporting democracy in Europe.
US sen & commission chair Cardin thanking her

@AnnaPartisanka 11. Cardin acknowledges her bravery, and her testifying to Russian violation of all international norms, targeting civilians, and her survival of the ordeal as POW who witnessed numerous abuses & violations. Of Russia’s use of fake proxy. Of Putin’s use of propaganda.

@AnnaPartisanka 12. Cardin asks why Russia took Taira, a medic, as prisoner? And civilians too? Was this part of Russia’s military strategy to target civilians, to show Ukraine there will be no mercy? “Why were you apprehended, why were you out in prison?”
Taira responds via translator

@AnnaPartisanka 13. Taira says she was caught during a document check. Not sure specifically why they took her. She thinks they saw her as an enemy because of her proximity to soldiers. Later they tortured her and alleged she committed crimes which she never did.

@AnnaPartisanka 14. “They just wanted me to admit guilt of something I have never committed. Their goal was to create an image of me, some sort of beast… targeted toward Russian population…. I believe they were doing the same with other captives. They used torture to force confessions “

@AnnaPartisanka 15. “I have seen Russian tv footage (POWs) confession to things I know for a fact they did not do. So I understand what was done to them in order to obtain these confessions… to excuse their aggression toward Ukraine.”
Chair Mr. Cardin acknowledges violation of Geneva Conv.

@AnnaPartisanka 16. “When I was detained I already had a concussion cause by explosions of bombing of the hospital. I asked for a doctor. They told me I do not deserve that. I asked for a phone call to inform my husband. They did not allow that. They said you have seen to many American movies.”

@AnnaPartisanka 17. “They took all my medicine. I had my thyroid removed so I need my hormone replacement daily. Only after 10 days of me asking for my medicine every moment, they gave it back and it was a miracle because their attitude is to not allow anything. Same for my asthma medicine.”

@AnnaPartisanka 18. “ they wouldn’t let me hold on to my asthma medicine, each time I needed it I had to knock on the door for a long time and the guards would get angry at me. They felt this was the normal thing to do. For those 3 months I only had the clothes on my body.”

@AnnaPartisanka 19. “My coat saved my life, kept me alive in the cold. Conditions in captivity is really inhuman. Captured me in March, really cold. All the cells had no window panes, just the bars, always terribly cold. No blankets or pillows. Most times not even a mattress. We slept on metal.”

@AnnaPartisanka “In those 3 months I only showered once. Refused any parcels or supplies for us. Other girls in other cells who had family unable to send parcels. Of course, no tooth brush or hygiene supplies etc. you can forget about that.”

@AnnaPartisanka 21. Co-chair Cohen asks if captors knew who she was when they took her:
Taira visibly shaking at her shoulders
“When DNR was checking my ID, he remembered some things about me. He went away either to check a list or make phone call. When he came back he told me to exit the car”

@AnnaPartisanka 22. “Some plain civilian girls were beaten in captivity. Just to scare them. But of course I did get … special treatment… It’s very unpleasant for me to recall. I was moved at times but at each location I saw some Azov soldiers. They were treated with *soecial* cruelty.”

@AnnaPartisanka 24. “They also had a particular hatred towards Ukraine unit named AIDAR. They said it is because aidar is a terror organization.”
(Taira understand English. She just has a hard time speaking it. Testifying via translator)
Congressman Wilson now speaking…

@AnnaPartisanka 25. For anyone who needs link:l. Sorry I didn’t realize we haven’t put it up:

@AnnaPartisanka 26:
Mr. Wilson & Taira discussion about impact of communications, technology, propaganda. This part of the testimony is a bit abstract. He asks what more west can do. She advocates for more resources to investigate war crimes. Recognize genocide. Call #russiaIsATerrorristState

@AnnaPartisanka 27.
“We are very thankful & I apologize for repeating but we need much more military support. We use it properly & effectively. We are not using it against civilians. We need particularly defense against air strikes. Not just for military but for our civilians & infrastructure”

@AnnaPartisanka 28.
Commission members thank Taira & dr. Hopko for their testimony. Also extends *open invitation* to other Ukrainians & witnesses for further testimony or to submit information to the commission’s staff in order to elevate their voices and preserve truth.
.
Adjourned .