A Ukrainian man who alleges he was tortured by Russian occupying forces has filed a legal complaint halfway around the world in Argentina, an unusual bid to seek accountability for alleged war crimes at a time when prosecutors in Kyiv are overwhelmed.

Buenos Aires

Russian forces have invaded Ukraine from land, air and sea with strikes causing widespread damage. Global leaders have condemned the move and imposed sanctions.

Ukraine Invasion

A Ukrainian man has filed a legal complaint in Argentina, alleging he was tortured by Russian occupying forces. This move represents an atypical approach to seeking accountability for alleged war crimes, particularly at a time when Kyiv's prosecutors are reportedly overwhelmed by numerous cases.

The case filed in Argentina signifies an international effort to address alleged violations of human rights, specifically focusing on the experiences of individuals who claim to have been subjected to torture by foreign occupying military forces. This legal action underscores the broader challenges faced in holding parties accountable for war crimes during ongoing conflicts.



Ukraine torture case against Russia filed in Argentina

This Ukrainian man alleges he was tortured by Russian occupying forces and he has now filed a legal complaint halfway around the world in Argentina. It's an unusual bid seeking accountability for alleged war crimes when prosecutors in Kiev are overwhelmed. The man asked not to be identified by Reuters for fears for his family's safety still in Russian occupied areas of Ukraine. Reuters has seen his near 70-page complaint, filed on Monday in the federal court in Buenos Aires. It accuses one named person, two identified by their call signs or military insignia, and others who are unnamed of using electrocution and unlawful imprisonment as forms of torture in mid to late 2022. I was detained at work, then they tortured me. They used electric shocks. It was incredibly painful. I lost consciousness. I was lucky to survive. Many people are still there. He alleges 12 to 20 people were held in cells 32 feet squared in the detention centre he was held in. The man's legal team said he was eventually released without charge and fled to safety. The complaint also contains testimony from other prisoners at the detention facility that support the allegations. Reuters was unable to independently confirm specifics of the victim's account and the Russian defence ministry on Monday declined to comment. Moscow denies committing war crimes in Ukraine and has dismissed previous international criminal court war crimes arrest warrants as part of a biased Western campaign to discredit Russia. The man's complaint is supported by members of Ukraine-based NGO The Reckoning Project and legal adviser Svetlana Van Benthem. It is hoped of course that justice will be brought to bear on them directly, but even if they are just arrest warrants or extradition orders at any particular stage, this will still make the world feel very much smaller for them. If accepted by Argentinian prosecutors, the case will be the first filed outside of Europe and the US looking at alleged Russian war crimes. Over 126,000 war crimes cases have been filed since the February 2022 invasion by Russia, creating an unprecedented challenge for the country's justice system, according to the Prosecutor General's office. After landmark trials of the leaders of its former military dictatorship, Argentina has become a global leader in universal jurisdiction. Prosecutors can bring cases for war crimes and crimes against humanity in other countries, even if the victims and perpetrators have no link with Argentina.

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Ukraine Invasion