On January 22nd 2021, pacifist journalist Ruslan Kotsaba was attacked near the Kolomyia City District Court of Ivano-Frankivsk Region, in Ukraine, as he was going to the hearing for the trial where he is charged for publications against the war. He published in 2015 a video titled “I refuse to mobilize”.
Read more about the case of this journalist by clicking here.
IFOR shares the deep concern expressed by EBCO - European Bureau for Conscientious Objection in its Press Release "UKRAINE: EBCO shocked by the continuation of prosecution and attacks against Ruslan Kotsaba. Criticism of the military is not a crime! Violence is a crime!", condemning the physical violence against the journalist who is under investigation for going public against the war. Read the Press Release by clicking here.
IFOR has already referred to this individual case in the statement delivered last December at the UN during a session of the Human Rights Council concerning the situation of human rights in Ukraine. Click here to read more.
We stand in solidarity with the victims of the violation of the right to freedom of expression in Ukraine and in any other country.
Reprisals and Violence against human rights defenders and peace activists should always be condemned.
Learn more by clicking here, about possible solidarity initiatives and to take action on this case.