On 24 June, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Mariana Betsa met with Philippe Bolopion, Executive Director of Human Rights Watch.

Mariana Betsa commended Human Rights Watch’s sustained attention to documenting Russia’s crimes in Ukraine amid the Russian Federation’s ongoing full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine. She stressed the need to ensure the most comprehensive possible documentation and public reporting of all criminal acts committed by the aggressor state in violation of international law. In this context, the Deputy Minister expressed hope that the newly appointed Executive Director’s visit to Kyiv shortly after assuming office would provide fresh impetus to efforts in this area.

“We highly value Human Rights Watch’s work in documenting violations of human rights and international humanitarian law committed by Russia against Ukraine and Ukrainians. We consider it important to deepen cooperation with Human Rights Watch in order to raise international awareness, ensure accountability, and protect human rights amid Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine,” Mariana Betsa stated.

The Deputy Minister also stressed that the proactive disclosure of evidence of the inhuman treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians, as well as the collection and preservation of evidence concerning the abduction, unlawful adoption, and forced Russification of Ukrainian children, would help keep these issues high on the international agenda and contribute to bringing those responsible for these crimes to justice.

The interlocutors also discussed ways to further develop cooperation in the human rights sphere within international organizations.