On May 18, Oleksandra Matviichuk—human rights defender, Head of the Center for Civil Liberties, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate—paid a visit to Strasbourg and the Council of Europe.

During the visit, key meetings took place with representatives of Council of Europe institutions and member states of the Organization.

In a meeting with the Permanent Representative of Monaco to the Council of Europe and Chair of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Ambassador Gabriel Revel, the parties discussed joint priorities regarding accountability for Russia's crime of aggression against Ukraine, as well as the further development of international law in response to new wartime challenges.

Special attention was devoted to the creation of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine. In this context, participants highlighted the historic decision adopted on May 15 during the 135th Ministerial Session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in Chișinău, where 36 states and the European Union supported the establishment of the Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine.

During her meeting with Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O'Flaherty, discussions centered on the principle that global security begins with human security. Key topics included Russia's systemic violations of freedom of religion in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, the imperative to protect the civilian population, and the fact that the abduction of Ukrainian children, their forced assimilation, and militarization represent not only gross violations of international law, but also a security threat to all of Europe. The necessity of international support for establishing the Special Tribunal was also re-emphasized.  

Oleksandra Matviichuk also met with the President of the Conference of International Non-Governmental Organisations of the Council of Europe (CINGO), Gérard Ermischer. The focus was on the possibility of the Center for Civil Liberties joining the work of the Conference, as well as strengthening the presentation of evidence regarding Russian crimes against Ukraine through broader engagement with international media and civil society.

We express our sincere gratitude to the "Dyvys Ukrainske" (Look at Ukrainian) Association and its head, Andriy Rizol, for their proactive initiative and support in organizing the events in Strasbourg. We are also grateful to the MICT France - Ukraine Association and Association SAU for their assistance, support, and help in organizing the visit and accompanying events.