Zelensky Slams Amnesty International Over Report: 'Cannot Be Tolerated'
NewsweekDec 04, 2022
On Sun., Amnesty International apologized for the "distress and anger" caused by its report on Ukrainian military's fighting tactics, accusing Ukraine of endangering civilians. The report was denounced by Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy and triggered the head of Amnesty International's Kyiv office to resign in protest.
Amnesty's report, issued on Aug. 4, accused Ukrainian forces of exposing civilians to danger and violating the norms of international humanitarian law by establishing bases in schools and hospitals and launching counterattacks from heavily populated areas.
Amnesty is shamelessly shredding its credibility by serving as a megaphone for the propaganda of the Putin regime. It also fails to grasp the basic realities of the war: Ukrainian forces only base themselves in civilian areas because Russian forces are attacking them in the first place.
Amnesty is right to stand by its findings. Putting civilians in harm's way by placing bases or weapons systems in residential areas is a clear violation of international law and it should be condemned when it goes on.