New Research into Russian War Crimes in Ukraine: Daily Brief

There's new research into Russian war crimes in Ukraine. In the city of Chernihiv, which was surrounded and bombarded by Russian forces in late March, Human Rights Watch found that Russian forces repeatedly attacked populated areas from the ground and air, with seeming disregard for civilian loss of life. The attacks resulted in scores of civilian casualties in an apartment complex, outside of a supermarket, and in two hospitals. As a reminder, parties to a conflict are obligated to minimize civilian harm, including by avoiding to use explosive weapons with wide-area effects in populated areas. 

There are also new reports of war crimes in Afghanistan, since fighting escalated in the Panjshir province as National Resistance Front forces have attacked Taliban units and checkpoints. The thousands of Taliban fighters deployed in response have targeted communities they allege are supporting the NRF. The Taliban detained and tortured civilians, committed summary executions, and committed enforced disappearances. “This is just the latest example of Taliban abuses during fighting in the region 10 months after the Taliban took power” reminds Patricia Gossman, associate Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

In Tunisia, President Saied’s latest move to concentrate powers in his own hands removed whatever autonomy the judiciary still was able to exercise. He granted himself, via decree, absolute power to fire judges summarily, and promptly dismissed 57 judges. Ten rights groups sound the alarm, after a year of Saied dismantling almost all institutional checks on his power, ahead of a referendum he organized to vote on a new constitution on July 25.

Here’s a bad idea: US President Joe Biden is expected to visit Saudi Arabia to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. It’s a move that risks encouraging new abuses and further entrenching impunity. 13 human rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, have written a joint letter to President Biden about it.

A new book by Belgian and Dutch sportswriters looks at the controversy around FIFA’s decision to award Qatar the World Cup hosting rights, Qatar’s poor human rights record, and the long history of human rights abuses around World Cup tournaments. Human Rights Watch contributed a chapter to the book, highlighting human rights abuses committed by Qatar since 2010, when it was awarded the World Cup hosting rights. All sports fans and players should ask sports organizations like FIFA to put human rights first. 

Let’s end the week on some good news: Malaysia has abolished the death penalty!