Thread by @Kristina__Hook

My thoughts on the question of whether #Russia is committing genocide in #Ukraine for @TIME (thanks, @TaraLaw27):

Short answer, yes.

Some additional thoughts as I'm seeing lots of questions coming from the UN independent inquiry report: 🧵

#UkraineRussianWar

https://twitter.com/TIME/status/1636042824645853194

In unfolding atrocities, analysts+academics work rapidly to establish what we know (facts).

Legal teams work to build the evidence base for cases to stand up in court.

These processes have different speeds.
This is ok: real-time analysis + courtroom justice both needed! 2/

Evidence collection takes time.

It dishonors victims to rush this: to ensure they receive their courtroom justice, the precisely correct charges must be brought + the evidence must be rock solid.

And... 3/

#UkraineRussianWar #Ukraine️ #Russia

The UN report notes investigations of all 3 atrocity crimes (war crimes, crimes against humanity, & genocide) are ongoing.

Think of this doc as a progress report, not a final verdict...essential context for understanding the highly quoted press conference 4/

#UkraineRussianWar

I read the UN report as relatively forward-leaning.

It acknowledges that #Russia blocks access but still states what investigators are likely to find in places like #Mariupol.

No perpetrator should feel relief reading this report.
4/

#UkraineRussiaWar #Ukraine️

In our digital age, many new evidence gathering options exist (OSINT, etc).

#Russia's massive scale of violence in #Ukraine️ is matched by sheer brazenness, unafraid of accountability.

This increases how much evidence can be collected, which takes time. 5/

#UkraineRussiaWar

🚨 Most importantly: it's wrong to view genocide only thru legal lens, or as something that shapes post-conflict accountability.

Analytically, genocidal patterns are clear. This must shape policy decision-making NOW. ⤵️ponarseurasia.org/the-policy-imp…
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#UkraineRussianWar #Ukraine️