Our documentation of war crimes by the Russian Federation against the civilian population in Ukraine in September 2024

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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November 30, 2024

Analytical review of the activities of the NGO “Association of Relatives of Political Prisoners of the Kremlin” on documenting Russian war crimes against civilians in Ukraine in November 2024

Since 2022, we have interviewed 402 witnesses of enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions and crimes against civilians, including shelling of civilian infrastructure, appropriation of private property by the occupiers, and illegal deprivation of liberty. As of the end of November 2024, information on 254 civilians who were arbitrarily detained by representatives of the Russian Federation or groups controlled by the aggressor country was found, of which 16 were identified during the processing of testimonies in November 2024.

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December 18, 2025

Analytical Report on the Conducted Public Review

The NGO “Association of Relatives of the Kremlin’s Political Prisoners” publishes an analytical report prepared based on the results of a public review of the activities of the Commission for Establishing the Fact of Deprivation of Personal Liberty as a Result of Armed Aggression against Ukraine. The report systematizes the regulatory framework governing the Commission’s work, analyzes its administrative practice, and identifies key shortcomings in decision-making procedures and in victims’ access to social guarantees. Particular attention is paid to issues related to the burden of proof, the determination of the political motive of persecution, and the safeguarding of applicants’ right to be heard. Based on a legal analysis, a review of the Commission’s decisions, and surveys of affected individuals, the report formulates recommendations aimed at improving the regulatory framework, institutional capacity, and procedural fairness in order to strengthen state support for victims of unlawful deprivation of liberty.