The NGO"Association of Relatives of Political Prisoners of the Kremlin" hasbeen operating since 2017, focusing on protecting individuals illegallydeprived of personal freedom for political reasons. The large-scale armedaggression of the Russian Federation and the occupation of significantterritories of Ukraine have led to a new wave of enforced disappearances andarbitrary detentions. Since 2022, the Association, as part of the coalition ofpublic organizations "Ukraine. 5 AM," has joined in documenting andconducting in-depth interviews with victims and witnesses of internationalcrimes committed by Russian military personnel in the occupied territories ofUkraine.

Our organization's documenters workon obtaining testimonies from individuals who have witnessed crimes of the RussianFederation, suffered from illegal deprivation of liberty, or were held againsttheir will by the occupying authorities.

Since 2022,we have interviewed 362 witnesses of enforced disappearances, arbitrarydetentions, and crimes against the civilian population, including the shellingof civilian infrastructure, appropriation of private property by occupiers, andillegal deprivation of liberty. As of the end of September 2024, informationhas been uncovered about 221 civilians who were arbitrarily detained byrepresentatives of the Russian Federation or groups controlled by the aggressorcountry, of which 17 individuals were identified during the processing oftestimonies in September 2024.

All the details about our September war crime documentation results are in attached PDF file below.

Our experts are currently documenting war crimes with the support of the Norwegian Helsinki Committee - we are greatful to the organization for helping us to continue this important work.

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June 6, 2025

Invisible in Russian captivity: Analysis of the illegal detention of civilians incommunicado: family testimonies and challenges in locating them

This analytical report is extremely important for illustrating violations of Articles 9 (right to social security), 10 (protection of the family), 12 (right to health) and 15 (participation in cultural life) of the Covenant. The report describes the complete isolation of civilians in places of detention without contact with the outside world (holding them incommunicado), accompanied by psychological pressure, a ban on phone calls and correspondence, and no access to a lawyer or medical care. Such conditions not only violate their individual rights, but also deprive their families of the opportunity to provide care, support and the realisation of basic social rights. 
Assistance in protecting the mobilization rights of Ukrainian civilian citizens who were in captivity
August 1, 2024

Assistance in protecting the mobilization rights of Ukrainian civilian citizens who were in captivity

In accordance with Article 117 of the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, released prisoners of war may not be employed on active military service. We have written the letter to Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets and he promised to review this situation towards released prisoners of War. Our letter and the answer are in attachment