July 9th 2023.
The atrocities of war have been tragically visible as Vladimir Putin continues to target civilian populations in Ukraine. In response, a coalition of human rights groups have united forces to document and map instances of war crimes perpetrated by Putin's forces. This initiative, known as the Tribunal for Putin (T4P), aims to build a solid legal framework, in preparation for the day when the perpetrators face justice.
The T4P database currently records more than 44,900 incidents, with the death toll reaching 8,700 and rising. It also documents violations of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, such as Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes. This includes the use of civilians as human shields, destruction of residential blocks, torture, shelling and missile attacks on residential areas, disappearances, and other forms of harm.
One of the T4P's three trustee groups, Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group, has called on the international community to make it clear that there is no impunity for the perpetrators. Denys Volokha, media director of the group, said: "We have identified more than 8,000 victims across the different regions of Ukraine. We are united with the Ukrainian Centre for Civil Liberties and human rights organisations all over Ukraine to document these human rights abuses."
The coalition is also collecting personal stories from the victims of these war crimes. Iryna Oliinyk, a 49-year-old from the liberated city of Borodyanka, shared her experience of an airstrike that destroyed her apartment and seriously injured her husband and two-year-old son. She said: "When I drive past our house, I want to cry. I want to go home."
This evidence is essential for the coalition's ultimate goal: to bring the war's architects in front of an international court. In March an arrest warrant was issued against Putin and Russia's commissioner for children's rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, for allegedly trafficking children from occupied areas of Ukraine into Russia.
The Tribunal for Putin is dedicated to ensuring that Vladimir Putin does not escape judgement for his involvement in the Russian aggression in Ukraine. Lawyers and researchers are currently gathering evidence and providing material and psychological assistance to the victims. The coalition stands ready to ensure justice is served when the day arrives.
A coalition of 24 human rights groups have come together to form the Tribunal for Putin (T4P), with a mission to document and map out instances of war crimes perpetrated by Vladimir Putin's forces. The ultimate goal is to hold the Russian president and his accomplices accountable for tens of thousands of acts of brutality and to bring them before an international court.
As Putin continues to bombard civilian locations in Ukraine, the T4P's live system now records more than 8,700 deaths and 44,900 incidents, with the toll increasing steadily. Each incident is documented in a vast database and mapped to the location where it was reported. The T4P also provides both material and psychological assistance to individuals affected by the war.
Denys Volokha, media director of the Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group, one of the tribunal's three trustee groups, believes that the international community should demonstrate to the perpetrators that 'there is no impunity for them'.
The T4P's work has uncovered a trail of destruction across the different regions of Ukraine, with more than 8,000 victims reported. This includes shelling and missile attacks on residential areas, the use of civilians as human shields, torture chambers, and the wholesale destruction of civilian houses, schools, and universities.
Iryna Oliinyk, from the liberated city of Borodyanka, recounted how her husband and two-year-old son were seriously injured when a Russian airstrike destroyed her apartment. She expressed her desire to 'go home' as she drives past her house and wants to cry.
The T4P's work, though massive in scale, is essential to ensure that Vladimir Putin does not avoid judgement for his aggression in Ukraine. In March, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against Putin and Russia's commissioner for children's rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, for allegedly trafficking children from occupied areas of Ukraine into Russia.
Though justice may not be served soon, the coalition is determined to build a solid legal framework, even if it takes decades. It is crucial that the perpetrators understand that there are consequences to their actions and that their war crimes will be held accountable.
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