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The European Court of Human Rights Rules Russia Guilty of Widespread Human Rights Violations in Ukraine
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![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
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The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) delivered a landmark decision, officially recognizing Russia’s responsibility for widespread human rights violations during its war against Ukraine—including the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 and atrocities committed before and after the full-scale invasion of February 24, 2022.
This was reported by European Pravda on June 9.
The case, one of the largest inter-state proceedings in the history of the European Court of Human Rights, brought together four major complaints filed by Ukraine and the Netherlands.
The case, one of the largest interstate proceedings in ECHR history, united four complaints filed by Ukraine and the Netherlands:
Ukraine v. Russia: Violations during the war in Donbas — including the MH17 shootdown, torture, forced labor, and more.
Ukraine v. Russia: The abduction and illegal transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia in 2014.
Netherlands v. Russia: Circumstances and consequences of the MH17 tragedy.
Ukraine v. Russia: Gross human rights violations during Russia’s full-scale invasion beginning in 2022.
According to European Pravda, the court unanimously affirmed its jurisdiction over all cases involving events up to September 16, 2022—the day Russia’s membership in the Council of Europe formally ended.
The ruling confirms that Russia is guilty of systemic and large-scale human rights abuses in occupied Ukrainian territories, including arbitrary killings of civilians and POWs, torture, unlawful detentions, forced deportations, and efforts to erase Ukrainian identity — including through education, filtration camps, and the forced relocation of Ukrainian children and adults to Russia.
Russia did not participate in the hearing or the proceedings — underscoring its ongoing refusal to comply with international law.
Earlier, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe passed a Ukrainian-initiated resolution condemning Russia’s ongoing aggression.
The resolution details Russia’s large-scale violations against Ukraine, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, and acts of aggression. It also urges the international community to maintain and strengthen support for Ukraine—militarily, financially, and through humanitarian aid.
