Join us at ICC #ASP24 in The Hague for a side event “Speech crimes of the Russian Federation in the context of the conflict in Ukraine: Documentation, investigation and prosecution”, jointly organised with LingvaLexa, FIDH – International Federation for Human Rights, Social Action Centre and Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine.

The war of aggression in Ukraine began not only with missiles but with months and years of orchestrated language. These narratives prepared Russian soldiers and society for brutality, normalising violence before it was committed, and continue to justify the aggression and deny atrocities. As mechanisms of international criminal justice have shown, accountability must begin not only with those who pull triggers, but with those whose words set the conditions for the crimes to become possible and normalised. This side event will consider how this rhetoric crosses the line from propaganda to speech crimes under international law, with the panellists examining the documentation of Russian speech crimes, efforts underway in Ukraine to combat hostile narratives, what the International Criminal Court can do to punish this rhetoric and what role universal jurisdiction can play in prosecuting Russian propagandists.

Speakers:

Anna Vyshniakova, Head of LingvaLexa

Olena Metelkina, Prosecutor, Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine

Alexandra Leibova, FIDH Program Officer

Rastislav Šutek, Platform for Peace and Humanity, Executive Director

Moderator:

Luke James, Platform for Peace and Humanity, Deputy Director

Location: ICC ASP, The Hague, World Forum, Yangtze 2