Report protest: Ukraine chief of Amnesty resigns

Amnesty International has accused Ukraine in a report of endangering civilians. This was followed by outrage from President Zelenskij – and now the resignation of the head of the Ukraine office of Amnesty.

after release Report accusing Ukrainian military Oksana Poklchuk, the head of the Ukraine office of the human rights organization Amnesty International, has resigned. Poklchuk announced his resignation on Facebook. He accused Amnesty of hijacking Russian propaganda.

Poklchuk called the report one-sided

Poklchuk said in the statement, “Unless you live in a country that is being attacked by occupiers who are tearing it to pieces, you probably won’t understand the strength of the defenders’ army.” What is condemnation?” Poklchuk also writes that he tried to warn Amnesty officials that the report was one-sided and did not adequately take into account Ukrainian positions. However, he was ignored.

The report presented by Amnesty on Thursday caused outrage in Kyiv. President Volodymyr Zelensky then accused the organization of “in a way to put the victims and the attackers on an equal footing”. Amnesty International in its report accused the Ukrainian military of endangering civilians by building bases in residential areas, schools and hospitals.

Pokaltschuk: too little time to take a stand

Amnesty says the organization contacted officials from Ukraine’s Defense Ministry on July 29, but they did not respond to a request for comment on the report’s findings at the time of its August 4 release. Poklchuk said that there was almost not enough time. He complained:

Instead, in an effort to protect civilians, the report has become a Russian propaganda tool, Poklchuk wrote. Amnesty Secretary General Agnes Callamard said on Friday that the organization “stands full” with its report.