HRC58 : The Pursuit of Justice and Accountability Amid Crimes Against Humanity in the Ukraine-Russia Conflict

The 58th Session of the Human Rights Council

24 February - 4 April 2025

36th Meeting: Interactive Dialogue with Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine

19 March 2025

By Matilde Gamba / GICJ 

Executive Summary 

On 19 March 2025, during the 36th Meeting of the 58th Session of the Human Rights Council, country delegates convened to discuss the findings of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry (COI) on Ukraine (A/HRC/58/67). Mr. Erik Møse, the COI’s Chair, together with Mr. Pablo de Greiff and Ms. Vrinda Grover, two human rights experts and members of the COI, presented their latest report. The latter provided a detailed overview and description of the grave violations of International Human Rights Law (IHRL) and International Humanitarian Law (IHL) in the context of the Russian Federation’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine. 

As the war enters its fourth year,  as of 24 February 2024, over 12,654 civilians have been killed and over 29,392 injured, according to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). The war has also caused large-scale destruction of homes and critical public infrastructure. 

The COI’s report presented substantial evidence of crimes against humanity committed by the Russian armed forces and the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB) as part of a coordinated, widespread, and systematic state policy against Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of war (POWs). 

Mr. Erik Møse further highlighted the failure of the Russian Federation to inform the families of the whereabouts of those they were detaining. Despite 31 formal requests from the Commission, Russian authorities have refused to cooperate or provide responses about missing individuals. 

The COI’s report also documented the use of torture, sexual violence, and gender-based violence by the Russian forces during detention as crimes against humanity. 

The interactive dialogue underscored the urgency of judicial and non-judicial accountability measures to address the systematic violations and human rights abuses committed during the war. Multiple country delegates expressed grave concern over the COI’s findings and reiterated their support for renewing the Commission’s mandate.

Conversely, Russia was absent from the HRC session and refused to cooperate with the COI’s independent and impartial activities. Belarus and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) criticised the Commission’s inquiry as politically biased.  

Geneva International Centre for Justice (GICJ) welcomes the COI’s report and urges the international community to provide necessary resources to facilitate the Commission’s independent and impartial investigations. GICJ strongly condemns the grave human rights violations and crimes against humanity committed by Russian authorities against Ukrainian civilians and calls for immediate and effective international action to end the cycle of impunity. The victims of these heinous crimes deserve justice and the global community must ensure that accountability remains a top priority.

Background

The Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion and war of aggression against Ukraine on 24 February 2022 trembled the European Union (EU)’s security and geopolitical stability, sparking the largest military conflict and humanitarian catastrophe in Europe since World War Two.

As of January 2025, the United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR) estimated that 12,605 civilians have been killed in Ukraine while 29,178 have been injured since the beginning of the conflict. Yet, the actual number of casualties is likely to be much higher. Moreover, millions of Ukrainians have been forced to flee their homes while Russian forces have destroyed civilian homes and critical infrastructures such as schools, hospitals, and other medical facilities.

Since the outbreak of the invasion, the Russian forces have continued to perpetrate indiscriminate attacks through strikes, cluster bombs, and ballistic missiles against Ukraine’s population, raising serious concerns over Russia’s disregard for civilian harm. Accordingly, Russia’s strategy, including the continued use of indiscriminate weapons and the deliberate targeting of civilians, have seriously impacted Ukraine’s most vulnerable people, including children. 

The Russian Federation’s indiscriminate aggression against Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is a clear violation of international law principles and obligations, amounting to crimes against humanity. In Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, Russian forces committed serious violations of IHL and IHRL, including torture, summary executions, enforced disappearances, and looting of cultural property, targeting Ukrainian civil servants, journalists, and pro-Ukraine activists. 

Since the outbreak of the war, an unprecedented number of actors, ranging from heads of national governments and supranational organisations to domestic and international courts, became involved in investigating allegations of war crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine. In this sense, Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine brought a moment of a growth spurt in international law, bringing the issue of justice and accountability for atrocity crimes to the top of the international agenda. 

With this aim, on 4 March 2022, the Human Rights Council established an Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine under resolution 49/1. Under the HRC’s resolution, the mandate of the COI is to investigate all alleged human rights violations and abuses of IHL and other crimes in Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Therefore, the Commission must  collect, consolidate, and analyse evidence of the violations, while systematically preserving documentation, testimonies, and forensic material for potential future legal proceedings. 

Moreover, the COI is mandated to conduct field investigations to verify information in collaboration with judicial and other relevant entities. Aiming to identify the actors responsible for the violations, the Commission must provide recommendations on accountability measures, thereby combating impunity, upholding justice, and securing redress for victims and survivors.   

In addition to its mandate, HRC’s resolution S-34/1 tasked the COI to conduct independent investigations to address the events in Kyiv, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, and Sumy in February and March 2022. Most recently, in April 2024, the Human Rights Council extended the Commission’s mandate for an additional year through resolution A/HRC/55/L.25.    

As a result of these investigative and documentation efforts, in March 2023, the International Criminal Court (ICC)’s issued arrest warrants against President Vladimir Putin and Commissioner for Children’s Rights Maria Lvova-Belova for the unlawful deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children from occupied areas of Ukraine to Russia. 

Summary of Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine’s Report 

Since March 2022, Mr. Erik Møse, Mr. Pablo de Greiff, and Ms. Vrinda Grover have held the mandate of the Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine. The Commissioners submitted their latest report (A/HRC/58/67) for the 58th Session of the Human Rights Council pursuant to resolution 55/23. 

The report, a sequel to the October 2024 report (A/79/549) to the United Nations General Assembly, documented grave violations of IHL and IHRL in the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. The principles of independence, impartiality, objectivity, integrity, as well as a victim-centred approach guided the COI’s investigations.

The report focused on four key areas of concern: (1) enforced disappearances, (2) torture and inhumane treatment, (3) sexual violence and gender-based crimes, and (4) killings of persons hors de combat. 

Enforced Disappearances

The COI’s most crucial finding presented in the report is the enforced disappearances by Russian armed forces and the FSB as part of a military policy, amounting to crimes against humanity

The report highlighted 100 cases of enforced disappearances in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine. Russian forces illegally detained Ukrainian civilians, civil servants, journalists, law-enforcement personnel, and activists, as they were perceived as threats to their military efforts. They held them in detention facilities in Ukraine or deported them to Russia. 

In the majority of the cases, Mr. Møse stressed that the Russian forces systematically failed to provide information to the families of the missing relatives about their fate or whereabouts, thereby causing severe anguish and agonising uncertainty. Within the sample of investigated and verified cases by the COI, most of the disappearances lasted over two years. Moreover, the Commission has documented some cases in which victims of enforced disappearances have been executed, died, or are presumed dead.   

While many families tried to contact the detainees through letters, most never arrived or reached their destinations with considerable delay. When the families contacted Russian entities and inquired about their loved ones, Russian authorities revealed incomplete or no information, denying the detention of the disappeared persons and invoking a lack of competence or confidentiality. 

In the rare cases where information about the detainees was disclosed by Russian authorities, such information reached the relatives only weeks or months after the disappearances and, after such official acknowledgement, some victims went missing again. Conversely, in other cases, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation sent standard response letters, acknowledging the detainees’ presence but refusing to disclose information.

The lack of information disclosure represents a clear violation of the right to truth of the families, who described the uncertainty as unbearable as they felt helpless and isolated as well as physically and psychologically exhausted and overwhelmed.  

Torture as a Crime Against Humanity

The COI further concluded in its report that torture represents another strategy of social control, which is part of the Russia’s coordinated state policy, amounting to crimes against humanity. Accordingly, the Commission pointed to the deployment of personnel and special purpose units – the “Spetsnaz” in Russian – who systematically perpetrated torture in detention facilities of Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine. 

The COI highlighted that the most brutal forms of torture have been used during interrogations, including severe beatings, electric shocks, burns, strangling, suffocation, hanging, rape, and other forms of sexual violence.  

The gathered evidence identified the FSB as one of the principal actors involved in the perpetration of torture. Accordingly, in many cases, FSB personnel inflicted torture themselves as a strategy to extract false confessions or testimonies as well as intimidate the victims. In some of the cases investigated by the COI, former prisoners recounted that, during interrogations, FSB interrogators claimed answers that could satisfy their superiors. 

The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, established to document crimes committed by the Ukrainian regime against civilians, played  a  key role  in interrogating detainees. However, the Commission found that during the interrogations, members of the Investigative Committee ordered the federal penitentiary personnel to commit torture and psychological violence to extract information.   

Sexual Violence as a Form of Torture and Gender-Based Violence 

While in its previous report the COI identified sexual violence as a form of torture perpetrated by Russian authorities in detention facilities, mostly against men, the latest report highlighted a significant increase in the number of rapes of detained women. This finding highlights the gendered nature and impact of the treatment of women during detention. 

The Commission found that the actions of the perpetrators were aimed at humiliating and degrading women. Accordingly, female detainees were subjected to forced nudity, rape, and other forms of long-term physical and psychological abuse by Russian soldiers and federal penitentiary personnel. The interviewed women described the pain they underwent as inhumane and degrading as they felt helpless, hopeless, humiliated, and tired. 

Moreover, the report highlighted the inhumane conditions in which female detainees had to live, which affected them differently and disproportionately, as some of them suffered from reproductive health issues. 

Based on the investigations conducted and the findings, the COI concluded that the Russian authorities committed the war crimes of rape or sexual violence as a form of torture.

Killings of Persons Hors de Combat

The COI investigated the killing or wounding of captured, injured, or surrendered soldiers who were thus hors de combat. The Commission verified 32 incidents in which Russian soldiers killed or wounded 101 surrendering or capturing Ukrainian troops across multiple provinces in Ukraine and Russia. While previous reports also documented Ukrainian forces killing or wounding persons hors de combat, the present did not identify further allegations of this nature. 

In most of the cases reviewed by the Commission, Russian soldiers shot Ukrainian soldiers as they were surrendering and were in a vulnerable situation as they were either unarmed, lying on the ground, or kneeling. 

From the testimonies collected by the Commission, 48 Russian soldiers who deserted the Russian armed forces revealed that commanders routinely issued orders to kill captured or surrendering Ukrainian soldiers. Moreover, the COI found that commanders conveyed these instructions during pre-deployment briefings and in operational settings. Witnesses reported instances where officers explicitly ordered troops to execute prisoners, with some commanders stating that no captives should be taken.

The Commission further documented incidents where both Russian and Ukrainian armed forces targeted injured soldiers, primarily using explosive drones. These acts, widely circulated on social media, often depict severe suffering with dehumanising commentary, reinforcing concerns about violations of IHL. 

Verified footage shows Russian forces attacking wounded Ukrainian soldiers, including instances where drones struck an evacuation team carrying an injured soldier and repeatedly targeted groups of heavily wounded personnel. Similarly, Ukrainian forces have been recorded using drones to kill gravely injured Russian soldiers, including one instance where an operator allowed a wounded soldier to smoke before deploying an explosive. 

Based on the evidence collected and the investigations conducted, the COI concluded that both parties perpetrated war crimes of killing or wounding injured soldiers. Furthermore, the Commission found that Russian armed forces committed the war crime of killing or wounding soldiers who attempted to surrender or were captured.

Violations Committed by Ukrainian Authorities

The Commission has documented human rights violations by Ukrainian authorities against individuals accused of collaborating with Russian forces, including arbitrary arrest, detention, torture, and enforced disappearance. During its current mandate, it investigated four additional cases from 2022, all involving male victims. 

In two cases, detainees were subjected to severe beatings, electric shocks, and threats to extract confessions. One victim's arrest was only officially recognised weeks later, while another was publicly displayed in a video before enduring further mistreatment. 

The Commission has previously raised concerns about the vague legal definition of “collaborative activity” and has recommended aligning Ukraine’s legislation with international standards. Recent guidance from the Prosecutor General’s Office in 2024 emphasises compliance with human rights and humanitarian law, marking a positive development.

Key Recommendations

In its latest report, the Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine urgently called for judicial and non-judicial accountability and set out specific recommendations to address the violations of IHL and IHRL in the context of the Russian Federation’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

Specifically, the Commission called for the Russian Federation to:  

• Cease all acts of aggression against civilians and prisoners of war, ensuring compliance with IHRL and IHL;
• End systematic torture and ill-treatment of detainees, including enforced disappearances, by informing families of the fate of missing persons and ensuring legal oversight of detentions;
• Stop sexual and gender-based violence against civilians and prisoners of war and implement measures to prevent such abuses;
• Halt the forced transfer and deportation of Ukrainian civilians to Russian-controlled areas or the Russian Federation and facilitate their safe return;
• Investigate and prevent extrajudicial killings of POWs and injured personnel, ensuring accountability for all violations; and
• Hold perpetrators accountable, particularly military and security officials responsible for ordering or enabling war crimes, and enforce strict compliance with international law across all armed forces and security agencies.

The COI further recommended Ukraine to: 

• End the killing or wounding of injured personnel hors de combat, duly investigating all allegations and ensuring accountability; 
• Prevent the commission of such violations and crimes through comprehensive instructions to all branches of the armed forces; 
• Clarify the crime of collaboration in conformity with international law to ensure legal certainty and prevent harm to social cohesion; and 
• Address mental health and psychological needs resulting from the conflict by ensuring access to relevant services and resources. 

Lastly, the Commission recommended other States and international organisations to: 

• Strengthen their support for judicial and non-judicial accountability mechanisms; and 
• Provide comprehensive support for the rehabilitation and reintegration of victims of violations and crimes.

Interactive Dialogue 

Opening Statement

The Commission of Inquiry’s Chair, Mr. Erik Møse, opened the session by introducing the Commission’s report and its findings. Specifically, Mr. Møse provided the participants with a detailed overview and description of the gathered evidence on the IHRL and IHL violations in the context of the Russian Federation’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine.

Mr. Møse focused on the crimes against humanity of enforced disappearances and torture perpetrated by the Russian authorities which he described to be part of a widespread, systematic, and coordinated state policy against the civilian population of Ukraine and POWs across Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine and the Russian Federation. 

The COI’s Chair explained how the Russian relevant entities’ failure to disclose information about the whereabouts of the disappeared Ukrainians deprived the victims of the protection of the law and rendered them vulnerable to further violations and crimes. Moreover, Mr. Møse highlighted that the lack of information violated the families’ right to truth about the fate of their loved ones.  

Mr. Møse presented the findings gathered by the COI from interviews with victims and witnesses to substantiate Russian authorities’ systematic violation of male and female detainees through physical and psychological forms of torture. The Commission found that Russian armed forces perpetrated sexual and gender-based violence as well as other inhumane treatment, especially during interrogations as strategies to coherence and induce confessions.

Mr. Møse concluded his opening statement by reiterating the importance of judicial and non-judicial accountability in addressing these violations and abuses, emphasising that perpetrators must be held responsible to ensure victims’ recovery, prevent future impunity, and contribute to peacebuilding efforts. 

Participating Countries 

The representative of the concerned country Ukraine, Mr. Oleksiy Khomenko, Prosecutor General of Ukraine, thanked the COI for its unwavering dedication and focus on investigating and documenting the systematic and widespread violations of IHRL and IHL and related crimes committed by Russia. 

Mr. Khomenko stressed that Russia’s use of torture, enforced disappearance, unlawful killings, and sexual violence represents a method of warfare and a coordinated state policy with the  objective of terrorising the Ukrainian population. For this reason, the Prosecutor General highlighted  the importance of investigating the crimes to ensure justice for the victims, accountability for the perpetrators, upholding the law. 

Mr. Dmytro Lubinets, Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, expressed serious concerns over the Russian Federation’s systematic violations of international law and human rights abuses against Ukrainian men, women, and children as a strategy to undermine their human dignity and foster a climate of fear. Therefore, he urged decision-makers to extend the COI’s mandate and allocate the necessary resources to support its mandate.  

The representative of Estonia, Ms. Riia Salsa-Audiffre, opened her intervention by stressing the numerous civilian casualties, immense destruction, and deep psychological distress caused by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. For this reason, Ms. Salsa-Audiffre called for Russia to seize its widespread human rights violations and abuses and uphold its legal obligations, including by granting independent monitors full access to all detention facilities to achieve justice and lasting peace.

The representative of Poland, Mr. Miroslaw Broilo, speaking on behalf of the EU, expressed deep concern about the findings presented by the COI and the fate of Ukrainian children who are forcibly transferred or unlawfully deported. Mr. Broilo demanded that the aggressor must not go unpunished and must be held accountable for its war of aggression. Specifically, the representative reiterated the EU’s call on the Russian Federation to end the unlawful practice of deportation of Ukrainian children and their illegal adoption and to ensure their immediate and safe return to Ukraine.

The representative of the Republic of Moldova, Mr. Vladimir Cuc-Pr, spoke on behalf of the Group of Friends of Ukraine. Mr. Cuc-Pr opened his intervention by expressing serious concerns over the alleged crimes against humanity in the form of enforced disappearances and torture perpetrated by the Russian authorities. In the face of the findings presented by the COI, Mr. Cuc-Pr called on Russia to inform families of the fate and whereabouts of all persons in their custody, provide access to justice, return all forcibly transferred Ukrainian children, and take all possible measures to prevent sexual and gender-based violence. He concluded by reiterating the Group of Friends of Ukraine’s unwavering commitment to supporting efforts aimed at bringing repeaters to justice and preventing further crimes.   

The representative of Portugal, Ms. Mara Sousa, welcomed the COI’s report and expressed serious concerns over Russia’s violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. Ms. Sousa stressed the importance of preserving evidence as the first crucial step towards accountability for Russia. Moreover, as Ms. Sousa reiterated Portugal’s steadfast support of Ukraine’s independence and territorial integrity, she stressed the importance of putting Ukraine at the centre stage of any dialogue to achieve a lasting, just, and comprehensive peace.  

The representative of Canada, Mr. Peter Macdougall, expressed deep concerns over the crimes against humanity and human rights violations perpetrated by the Russian Federation. Mr. Macdougall implored all parties involved in the war to respect their international law obligations, yet he acknowledged no equivalency in the conflict. Mr. Macdougall further underscored the importance of achieving justice and just peace, one that fully upholds Ukraine's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.    

The representative of Türkiye, Ms. Muzaffer Uyav Gültekin, highlighted that approaches based on diplomacy dialogue and negotiations have gained momentum since the beginning of the war. Ms. Gültekin reiterated Türkiye’s strong support for a negotiated and diplomatic end to the conflict with the ultimate goal of ending humanitarian suffering. Therefore, the representative welcomed the ceasefire proposal discussed in Jeddah as a positive development and a constructive first step towards peace. Within this framework, Ms. Gültekin underscored Türkiye’s strategic position to contribute to the multidimensional efforts toward a diplomatic solution.  

The representative of Mexico, Mr. Fernando Israel Espinosa Olivera, expressed the need to strengthen the protection of human rights and respect for international law, deploring the crimes against humanity committed in Ukraine, particularly the coordinated and widespread practice of torture, forced disappearances, and sexual violence. Mr. Olivera highlighted the importance of triggering measures to prevent, address, and sanction these kinds of gender-based violence and called for an immediate end to the violence by reiterating Mexico’s support for the work conducted by the International Criminal Court.

The representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Mr. Paul Bekkers, expressed appreciation and support for the work and mandate of the COI. Mr. Bekkers reiterated deep about the ongoing violations of IHRL and IHL following Russia's illegal unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine concerns. The representative stressed that immunity for the crimes committed cannot prevail and stressed the necessity to bring the perpetrators of international crimes to justice because without justice there cannot be a lasting and just peace.  

The representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ms. Farzaneh Bani Asad Azad, stressed how the disregard for the rule of law and the violation of international legal obligations has undermined the effectiveness of international organisation as institutions. Accordingly, Ms. Azad highlighted that such institutions are exploited as political tools by certain governments and she further stressed the need for   genuine cooperation and a renewed commitment to multilateralism. For this reason, Ms. Azad expressed Iran’s refusal to impose a country-specific resolution as this would undermine the Council’s credibility and core mission. Ms. Azad concluded by calling on Ukraine to focus on peaceful measures and to refrain from making unfounded security allegations against others to garner support for its activities. 

The representative of China, Mr. Xie Cheng, expressed support for establishing a fair, lasting, and unbinding peace agreement accepted by all the parties involved. While recognising the complex process of reaching a consensus, Mr. Cheng reiterated that the Council should be guided by the principles of objectivity and impartiality and highlighted its positive role in facilitating a constructive dialogue between Ukraine and Russia. Mr. Cheng voiced China’s appeals for dialogue and negotiations, seeking a political solution to the conflict and peace talks respecting the will of the parties concerned. As Mr. Cheng concluded his intervention, he underscored China’s willingness to work with the international community and play a constructive role in seeking lasting peace in Ukraine. 

The representative of Romania, Ms. Sorana Popa, deplored the conflict’s devastating impacts on the civilian population, leading to loss of life, displacement, and severe psychological trauma. Therefore, Ms. Popa called for comprehensive support for the recovery and reintegration of the victims and survivors of the war. Moreover, the representative reiterated Romania’s full support for the investigations and independent monitoring mandates that document the human rights violations and abuses committed in Ukraine. 

The representative of Belarus, Mr. Maksim Sapsai, criticised the COI’s report and defined it as biased since it only serves the political interests of Ukraine. Moreover, Mr. Sapsai further stressed that the report is being used as a tool to punish a sovereign state as it knowingly ignores the violations of the rights of the Russian language. Accordingly, the representative affirmed that expanding the Commission’s mandate would mean continuing the confrontation and not working toward peace. Mr. Sapsai concluded by expressing Belarus’ support for reducing military and political tensions and building a dialogue to resolve the conflict.     

The representative of Germany, Ms. Nikola Gillhoff, reaffirmed Germany’s support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. Ms. Gillhoff welcomed the Commission’s report and expressed the urgent need to extend the COI’s mandate to enable it to continue its comprehensive work in the pursuit of justice and accountability. Accordingly, the representative supported the resolution put forward by Ukraine on the human rights situation in Ukraine stemming from the Russian aggression.   

The representative of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Mr. Ho Tong Hyok, judged the COI as a one-sided and politicised mechanism that does not pursue balanced activities and reports. Accordingly, Mr. Hyok further criticised the Commission’s biased approach in collecting and spreading unverified information, positioning itself as a judge punishing a sovereign state. Mr. Hyok continued by emphasising the Commission’s disregard towards the human rights violations committed by Ukraine such as the systematic oppression of Russian minorities and the Russia phobia stigmatisation. The representative expressed the DPRK’s rejection of such a politicised approach which represents a strategy to manipulate the Human Rights Council.  

Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) expressed grave concerns over the continued violations of IHL and IHRL committed by the Russian Federation in Ukraine and expressed sincere gratitude towards the COI’s continued investigation activities. The NGOs highlighted the systematic attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, which have directly jeopardised healthcare by disrupting medical procedures, delaying surgeries, and leading to loss of life due to power outages. 

They reiterated the need for stronger accountability mechanisms to address crimes against humanity, including enforced disappearances, torture, and sexual violence. The NGOs stressed the urgent need for reparations, calling for international initiatives to support civilian victims and ensure the measures of truth, justice, and guarantees of non-repetition are implemented.  

Concerns were raised over the systematic use of sexual violence as a weapon of war, with calls for enhanced support for survivors, legal documentation of cases, prosecution of perpetrators under international law, and continued cooperation to hold Russian authorities accountable. 

Concluding Remarks 

The representative of the country concerned, Ukraine, Mr. Oleksandr Kapustin concluded by expressing gratitude for the COI’s comprehensive report and its investigative efforts. Mr. Kapustin acknowledged the efforts towards justice and accountability initiated by the ICC, the Register of Damage for Ukraine, and the efforts to establish a Claims Commission and a Special Tribunal for the Crimes of Aggression in Ukraine.   

For the concluding remarks, Mr. Pablo de Greiff emphasised the COI’s commitment to promote accountability despite its lack of permanent presence on the ground. Mr. Greiff stressed that accountability must be approached comprehensively, addressing the needs of victims, ensuring reconstruction, and incorporating judicial processes at different stages of the peace process.  

Additionally, Ms. Vrinda Grover reiterated the importance of documenting the cases of sexual violence against male and female detainees used as a form of torture, emphasising the necessity of psychological support to enable victims to seek judicial accountability. Ms. Grover further stressed the need to investigate crimes against children, although challenges related to access and data collection persist. 

Lastly, Mr. Erik Møse reflected on the Commission’s coordination with international and regional mechanisms, including the ICC, the Council of Europe, and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). Mr. Møse referred to ongoing discussions within the Council of Europe to establish a regional criminal accountability mechanism. Finally, Mr. Møse acknowledged the crucial role of Ukraine’s national prosecutor and emphasised the need for resource allocation that supports, rather than duplicates, national efforts.

Position of Geneva International Centre for Justice

Geneva International Centre for Justice (GICJ) supports the work of the COI and welcomes its efforts to establish accountability for the Russian Federation and its serious human rights violations and abuses of IHRL and IHL committed in Ukraine. GICJ firmly condemns the continued atrocities and crimes against humanity committed in this war, especially those perpetrated against Ukraine’s territorial integrity and Ukrainian men, women, and children. The worrying evidence presented in the report underscores a deliberate policy of repression. Russia's refusal to disclose information concerning the living conditions of Ukrainian civilians and the treatment of detainees further violates international law safeguards.

GICJ urges all parties to the conflict to abide by their obligations under IHL and IHRL and calls on the international community to coordinate its efforts and take decisive action to hold perpetrators accountable, ensure justice for the victims, and end the cycle of impunity. Only by doing this can Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity be fully restored, paving the way for lasting peace and stability.

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