The United Nations appointed this Wednesday, March 30, three human rights experts to investigate possible war crimes in Ukrainefollowing the invasion of Russia that has left terrible consequences among the civilian population. Researchers include Norwegian Erik Mose; Jasminka Dzumhur, from Bosnia-Herzegovina and Colombian Pablo de Greiff.
The news was announced by the Argentine ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Federico Villegas, current president of the Human Rights Council, which is holding its 49th session this month. According to world media, the commission was approved on March 4, in the first week of the current Council session, with 32 votes in favor, 13 abstentions and only two once morest Russia and Eritrea.
De Grieff is a researcher and academic who has a long history, before his assignment in the crimes of the European country, he has already been in positions related to issues of violence, peace and investigation within the United Nations, for example, was the first United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-repetitionin addition, he was part of UNIIB, a United Nations independent expert mission to address the situation in Burundi. She then she was part of a group of experts who advise the UN Human Rights Council on its preventive functions.
In addition to the above, since 2014 he is a Senior Fellow at the Center for Human Rights and Global Justice at New York University Law School, where he directs both the Transitional Justice Program and the Prevention Project.
It is important to mention that the independent group, led by Mose, will investigate all allegations of rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law “in the context of aggression once morest Ukraine by the Russian Federation,” according to a statement.
The expert explained on Blu Radio that he will not have to be in Ukraine, but will be sent to a country close to the European country, but that the commission will work with all the information provided by United Nations officials who are helping people. affected in the bilateral conflict.
On the other hand, Greiff noted that the reports that will come out of The investigation can be used in future lawsuits once morest Russia but it does not have a judicial character. because the purpose is the deep analysis of the conflict and its consequences, but the evidence must have probative elements so that the record is complete.
Along the same lines, he clarified that The commission does not have the obligation to file complaints, but other mechanisms can make use of the investigation, one of these may be directly the United Nations, but it will depend on future decisions and how the situation in Urania develops.
Ukraine and its Western allies have accused the Russian military of killing and inflicting suffering on residents by shelling and besieging cities, most notably the southern port of Mariupol. Moscow denies targeting civilians.
Meanwhile, a video has circulated on social media alleging that Ukrainian forces mistreat captured Russian soldiers. kyiv has said the images appear fake, but that it will punish the perpetrators if they are found to be true.
The UN Human Rights Council has created the one-year commission of inquiry at the request of Ukraine and its allies, including the European Union, Britain and the United States.
Possible prosecutions
Russia, which calls its February 24 invasion a “special operation” to disarm and “denazify” Ukraine, has opposed the investigation. The United Nations also conducts investigations into war crimes in Syria, Myanmar and other conflicts. Their reports have been used to build evidence cases for possible prosecution.
Under the resolution on Ukraine adopted by the 47-member Geneva forum, the group will interview witnesses and collect forensic material for any future legal proceedings.
Since they have repeatedly asked Russia to respect “strictly all human rights and fundamental freedoms”, and to protect both civilians and critical civilian infrastructure in Ukraine. However, the Eurasian country has ignored it and what began as a small invasion has turned into a conflict that has lasted more than a month.
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