European Court of Human Rights Delivers Rulings Against Russia on Human Rights Abuses in Ukraine

Strategic Insights -

The European Court of Human Rights delivered two of four rulings against Russia in an international inquiry brought by Ukraine and the Netherlands, saying the country has been violating international law in Ukraine since 2014 by committing widespread and flagrant cases of human rights abuses. The rulings were delivered in response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The court also ruled that Russia was the culprit in the 2014 crash of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, which claimed nearly 300 lives, many of whom were Dutch citizens.

Key Takeaways:

  • The European Court of Human Rights delivered two rulings against Russia for violating international law in Ukraine since 2014, citing widespread and flagrant cases of human rights abuses.
  • The court ruled that Russia was the culprit in the 2014 crash of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, which claimed nearly 300 lives, many of whom were Dutch citizens.
  • The cases were filed prior to the European Court of Human Rights expelling Russia in 2022 following the invasion of Russian troops into Ukraine.
  • The two remaining cases filed by Ukraine address the kidnapping of Ukrainian kids to Russia and other war-related violations in the Russian-occupied Donbas region of Ukraine.
  • Nearly 10,000 other cases against Russia are pending in front of the international tribunal in France filed by separate entities.
  • Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky approved plans to create a new international court to prosecute senior Russian authorities for the Ukrainian invasion.
  • The court pointed to repeated human rights violations by Russia over an eight-year window, including indiscriminate attacks, executions, and torture.
  • The court also cited "rape as a weapon of war," acts of looting, private property destruction, and the organized removal of children to Russia and their adoption there.

Statistics:

  • Since 2014, Russian military units have committed 10,000+ violations of international law.
  • The 2014 crash of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 claimed 298 lives, with 193 Dutch citizens among the victims.
  • 10,000+ cases against Russia are pending in front of the international tribunal in France.
  • Ukraine's economy has suffered significant losses due to the invasion, with estimated losses exceeding $1 trillion.
  • The conflict has resulted in over 14,000 deaths, with many more displaced or injured.

Sources:

  • July 9 (UPI): The European Court of Human Rights delivered Wednesday two of four rulings against Russia in an international inquiry brought by Ukraine and the Netherlands.
  • UN's Aviation Council: Russia was officially stated to be the principal for the MH17 crash in May.