Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  In Crimea we observe three main trends. Russia, for all these years, has been rapidly transforming the former resort into a powerful base. They formed a joint military union in the central Black Sea and concentrated on ballistic missile attacks. Such actions are a danger for not only Ukraine but others, because they can achieve their targets in the Baltic states, Poland, the Czech Republic, Israel, Syria, etc.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Do you want to start?

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  I support this idea. I've personally participated and campaigned with our international organization partners based in Geneva to suspend Russia from the United Nations Human Rights Council. It's a huge shame to be present and to be responsible for the human rights mandates of a country such as Russia.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  The work of the International Criminal Court is essential, but it's not enough. That's why I ask Canada to also think about other possibilities to strengthen how perpetrators are brought to justice; international criminal courts focus only on several cases, and we don't know what cases they will choose for investigation.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  I have expected myself to be in such a situation, because my main instrument over all of these 20 years I've worked in the human rights protection field was law, but now law is not working. Law couldn't protect people in occupied territories. At Euromaidan SOS, every day we received dozens of requests for help from people in Kherson, Melitopol, Berdyansk, Kahovka, Slavutych and Energodar.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  I would like to focus on the possibilities of helping Ukraine bring the perpetrators to justice. I will start with the situation with the international court. The International Criminal Court has launched an investigation after a year-long break and only after the request of 39 countries.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Thank you very much for this important question. Sanctions imposed are a start; however, there are not enough effective sanctions to, first, cut Russia's ability to continue this war and, second, force Russia—in particular, its top officials—to pay a high price for its continuing aggression.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  First of all, it's important to name things correctly. It's not a “conflict”, but a “war”, with Russia against Ukraine. Several things have to be done. First, we ask that Ukraine be provided with fighter jets, air defence, tanks, anti-missile systems and other weapons. Second, we need economic sanctions that will cut Russia's ability to continue the war.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  It's Sukhenko.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  How many minutes do I have?

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  I will start with the point that we gathered testimony from people from Bucha, Gostomel, Motyshyn, Makariv, and other cities and settlements in the Kyiv region, even before this area was liberated, because there were some lucky people who escaped from isolated towns. I just want to remind you that the Russians deliberately isolated these villages' support to provide people the possibility to relocate in order to stop local resistance.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  My name is Oleksandra Matviichuk. I'm a human rights defender with the Center for Civil Liberties. We have resumed the work of the Euromaidan SOS and have brought up several hundred volunteers to document war crimes. Together with other human rights organizations, we work in the “tribunal for Putin” coalition.