“Europe has shown important strengths in
responding to Russia's full-scale invasion.”
05
By; Youcef MAALLEMI / Ahmed ABRI.
Le
Courrier d’Afrique 54: Hello, Anna Zevako, can you tell us about your professional background?
Anna Zevako, My name is Anna Zevako, I am an International
Advocacy Manager at the Media Initiative for Human Rights (MIHR), a Ukrainian
NGO documenting war crimes and advocating for justice for victims of Russia's
war against Ukraine. Since November 2024, I have been leading
MIHR's international advocacy campaigns, building partnerships with
international organizations, and organizing high-level events with diplomats.
My work focuses on raising international awareness of Russia's politically
motivated persecution of Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of war, and on
maintaining ongoing engagement with international organizations, foreign
governments, and non-governmental partners. Before joining MIHR, I spent eight
years at America House Kyiv (IREX), progressing from Social Media Assistant to
Communications Manager. In that role, I oversaw strategic communications, brand
development, social media presence, and delivered communications training for
American Centers in Ukraine and abroad.
Le
Courrier d’Afrique 54: You recently participated in the Helsinki + 50 conference, held in
Helsinki, the Finnish capital, on July 31st. What were the highlights of this
conference?
Anna Zevako, For me, the highlights were:
- A united call from Ukraine's government and civil society to reform the OSCE.
We stressed that the organization must not only respond to crises but also
prevent them, and that its decision-making rules, in particular the consensus
principle, should be reformed to stop abuse of the veto by states acting in bad
faith. This message reflected our shared view that the OSCE's ability to act
decisively is a matter of survival for Europe's security system.
- The strong presence of civil society was also notable. As it was my first
time at a conference of this scale, it provided an opportunity to meet and
exchange with civil society representatives from different countries. The OSCE
gave space for NGOs to present their perspectives, which is important for
addressing security and human rights issues.
- The side event we co-organized, "The Future of the Helsinki Final Act:
Restoring Justice and Ensuring Russia's Accountability," together with
ZMINA and Ukraine's Permanent Mission to the OSCE, amplified voices that need
to be heard internationally. Two former Ukrainian prisoners of war gave
harrowing testimonies of their captivity - describing beatings, electric
shocks, and other forms of torture, as well as fabricated charges and
convictions handed down by Russia-controlled courts. These were not isolated
incidents but examples of a systematic policy of abuse and denial of justice.
Bringing these testimonies to an international audience was crucial to ensuring
that such crimes are documented, acknowledged, and acted upon.
Le Courrier d’Afrique 54: Restoring Justice and Ensuring Russia's
Accountability is the theme of your presentation. Why did you choose this
slogan?
Anna Zevako, We chose this title because
it reflects the core message we wanted to deliver at Helsinki+50: Russia's war
of aggression against Ukraine is one of the most serious threats to European
security, the rule of law, and the principles of the Helsinki Final Act. Since
2014, and especially after the full-scale invasion in 2022, we have documented
systematic violations - enforced disappearances, torture, extrajudicial
executions, unlawful detention of civilians, and politically motivated trials
of Ukrainian POWs and civilian detainees. These are not isolated abuses but
part of a wide policy of persecution. Our goal at the conference was to show
that without justice for victims and accountability for perpetrators, the
security system built on the Helsinki Final Act cannot survive.
Le
Courrier d’Afrique 54: What are Europe's strengths and weaknesses in the face of Russia's invasion
of Ukraine?
Anna Zevako, Europe has shown important strengths in
responding to Russia's full-scale invasion. Many states acted quickly to
receive millions of Ukrainian refugees, provide significant financial and
humanitarian assistance, and help sustain Ukraine's economy. The European
Parliament has adopted strong resolutions on Ukrainian POWs and civilians in
Russian unlawful detention, which sends an important political signal and helps
keep this issue visible internationally. European countries have also
contributed to documenting violations, supporting justice efforts, and keeping
Ukraine high on the international agenda. At the same time, there are areas
where Europe's response could be strengthened. Some countries continue to buy
Russian energy, particularly liquefied natural gas, which undermines sanctions
efforts. Europe could also take a more proactive role in engaging third
countries to help bring the war to a just conclusion. In the humanitarian
sphere, greater coordination and leadership would be valuable in efforts to
secure the release of Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of war.
Le
Courrier d’Afrique 54: What are the main themes being discussed at Helsinki + 50 regarding the
challenges ahead for peace and democracy in the world?
Anna Zevako, Helsinki+50 focused on updating the Helsinki
Final Act for today's realities - strengthening the OSCE's ability to respond
to violations, creating stronger accountability mechanisms, and adapting the
consensus rule in exceptional cases. Accountability for serious breaches of
human rights and international law, including Russia's persecution of Ukrainian
civilians and prisoners of war, was aт шьзщкефте theme and echoed in our side
event on politically motivated trials. From Ukraine's perspective, restoring
the rights of victims and holding perpetrators accountable is essential for
justice and for safeguarding the credibility of the OSCE and the entire
European security system.