Side event about victims of enforced disappearances to be held during PACE’s spring session

The Ukrainian delegation to PACE organizes a side event “Victims of Enforced Disappearances: how the Russian Federation captures Ukrainian civilians and violates international law” during the PACE’s 2024 spring session. It will take place on April 18 from 12:45 to 13:45 in Room 7. ZMINA’s Co-ordinator of the War Crimes Documentation Department Yelyzaveta Sokurenko will join the discussion.

According to the latest data, 1 689 civilians are being held in captivity in detention facilities of the Russian Federation. 14 136 civilians are officially listed as missing, although the estimates are much higher. The Russian side keeps holding thousands of Ukrainian civilians in detention without any court verdicts and without providing any information about them. Russia systematically applies torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment to both PoWs and civilian hostages.

During the event:

• The victims will share their stories about how Russians illegally detained them, the conditions they lived in, and the treatment they were subjected to by Russian perpetrators. 
• Experts from Ukrainian governmental bodies and civil society will join the panel discussion on the current situation with victims of enforced disappearances due to Russian aggression against Ukraine.
• You will be able to ask questions to the participants during the Q&A session 

Speakers:

• Oleg Gushchyn, Representative of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War
• Yuriy Kovbasa, Representative of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights
• Yelyzaveta Sokurenko, Representative of NGO Human Rights Centre ZMINA
• Olena Khomenko, Vice-President of PACE and Member of Ukrainian Delegation

Moderator: Mariia Mezentseva, Chairperson of the Ukrainian Delegation to PACE