Donetsk Launches People’s Tribunal: Victims Have Come Forward, Investigations of War Crimes Begin
In Donetsk, the People's Tribunal on Investigation of War Crimes in Donbass began work. Five victims of the Ukrainian security officials' actions arrived to the first meeting. Сivilians who have become victims of attacks and diversions will speak here every day.
Who and how will answer for this? From the courtroom — Alexey Baranov.
This session of the Donetsk court has already been called People's Tribunal. The list of accused which includes most of the current Ukrainian officials is headed by the president of the country Petr Poroshenko. The victims' lawyer, who was hiding from the shelling of the AFU in the basement together with his family, stresses that it is criminal offenses.
Sergey Kozhemyakin, lawyer: "There are material evidence of crimes fixed in the framework of international law. Most of the materials have already been transferred to the international court".
The hall is full. In the forefront are witnesses. Svetlana's husband was killed under fire from the Ukrainian military.
Svetlana Rezai, a resident of Lugansk: "I had to help at that time and I did it. I knew that my husband was there, but I couldn't run and look for him among all. That's why I'm here".
Over 6 thousand civilians of Donbass were killed in the attacks of the Ukrainian security officials. Four years of war, which is called here civil, have passed. Everything that's happening is documented. Violence, looting, robbery, murder and terrorist acts. The highest Ukrainian officials were charged under many articles of the criminal code of Ukraine. Petr Poroshenko is accused of genocide of his own people and propaganda of war, which Kiev began and still continues.
Andrei Bazhidai, resident of Lugansk: "There was a lot of blood, many deaths. Why did the Kiev government order to bomb the center of Lugansk? I consider this a big crime against the people".
Konstantin Moroz came from Lugansk. He said that life in the previously blooming Ukrainian city changed suddenly.
Konstantin Moroz: "It all began with the air strikes on June 2. All this horror. They brought pieces of bodies. The bloodbath began. There were only civilians, we have videos and photos. There was a family: father, mother, and a girl".
A special direct broadcast is organized from the courtroom. Anyone who couldn't get on the first day of the meeting can see what is happening in real time.
Sergei Romashko, director of the DNR television: "We are working on many cameras. The people of Donbass wants justice".
It will take more than one meeting to make all testimony available in this process. This process is unique because the witnesses are all the surviving population of Donetsk and Lugansk.
Alexey Baranov, Alexander Malyshev, Andrey Rudenko, and Vadim Samsonov — Vesti Donbass