ZMINA highlights threats to Ukrainian civil society amid Russian aggression at the OSCE SHDM pre-event

Civic space and protections for human rights defenders are under extreme pressure across the OSCE region, a topic which was discussed during the OSCE SHDM III pre-event on June 2nd, and organised by the Human Rights House Foundation and the Netherlands Helsinki Committee. Key civil society actors from the region provided diplomats with updates on the situation in their countries. In particular, ZMINA’s Head of Civil Society Protection, Tetiana Bezruk, spoke about Ukraine.

Bezruk told the audience about Ukrainian civil society during Russia’s armed aggression. She highlighted that, while talking about peace negotiations, Russia continues to shell Ukrainian cities and kill Ukrainian civilians. Tetiana mentioned the story of a Ukrainian photojournalist, Maksym Levin, who was fatally shot by Russian servicemen while unarmed and wearing a press jacket in the Kyiv region. According to a report published by Reporters Without Borders, he was possibly detained, interrogated and tortured before the execution. His friend Oleksiy Chernyshov, who was accompanying him and was likely burned alive.

“A few years ago, the ex-wife of Maksym Levin and a journalist, Inna Varenytsia, spoke at one of the OSCE SHDM side events. And a few months ago, a Russian drone hit her car,” highlighted Bezruk. She said that it is the reality Ukrainians face in their daily life, and added, “After a night of shelling, my colleagues and I go to work. Kyiv and other cities bloom again, but not everyone survives the night”.

She shared the story of a volunteer, Oleh Salnyk: he was 27 years old and helped evacuate local residents in Kherson, and on 12 April of this year, a Russian drone killed him. This tragedy became one of over 120 murders of civil society representatives committed because of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

Bezruk appealed to the audience to keep standing with Ukraine, insisting on justice for Russia’s crimes, demanding that Russian authorities free Ukrainian journalists, volunteers and all those held captive, as well as allow visits to those detained to avoid such atrocities that happened to Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna. 

During the event, human rights defenders from other countries in the region also took the floor. Una Danilović from YUCOM, Human Rights House Belgrade, spoke about the situation in Serbia:

“We are witnessing an alarming deterioration of civic space and escalating attacks on human rights defenders in Serbia. From digital surveillance to politically motivated detentions, civil society is under unprecedented pressure. It’s time for international actors to respond with principled solidarity and action”.

“For months, Georgia has been facing a deepening human rights crisis, marked by the escalating repression of dissent through draconian laws and systemic ill-treatment. Civil society is under intense pressure – targeted by restrictive ‘foreign agent’ legislation, smear campaigns, intimidation and threats of persecution designed to silence, discredit, and dismantle it,” Tamaz Kirtava from the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association explained the events in Georgia. 

This pre-event highlighted the growing threats to civic space and human rights defenders across the region. Testimonies revealed a disturbing pattern of violence, repression, and impunity. Speakers called on the international community to stand in solidarity and take concrete action to protect those defending human rights on the front lines of democracy.