The head of Amnesty International in Ukraine has resigned in protest at a report published by the charity which appeared to blame Ukraine for Russian attacks on civilians.
Oksana Pokalchuk said Amnesty's report had become a “tool of Russian propaganda” and criticised her colleagues for failing to consult their Ukrainian branch.
The report published on Thursday said the Ukrainian military was endangering civilians by moving troops and weapons to residential areas, suggesting this made them susceptible to Russian attack.
Accusing Ukraine of breaching humanitarian law by “turning civilian objects into military targets”, it described “ensuing Russian strikes” as hitting civilians caught up in the slipstream of Ukrainian military operations.
Ukraine and allies including the US and UK have said that Russian strikes on civilians are not accidental.
Although Amnesty criticised Russia for using weapons that caused indiscriminate damage, it met a barrage of criticism from those who said the report defended the invaders and damaged the charity's reputation.
Oksana Markarova, Ukraine's ambassador to the US, called it “appalling victim-blaming... Ukrainians are in harm's way because Russians invaded us and kill us”.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy devoted part of his nightly address on Thursday to countering Amnesty by saying there was no situation in which Russian attacks could be justified.
“We saw today a completely different report from Amnesty International, which unfortunately tries to amnesty the terrorist state,” he said.
Ms Pokalchuk said the report was one-sided and that Amnesty gave too little time for Ukraine's Defence Ministry to respond, resulting in a release that “sounded like support of Russian narratives”.
The notion that Ukraine has been using human shields to defend its cities is a frequent Kremlin talking point which President Vladimir Putin has tried to sell to fellow leaders.
Amnesty's report was picked up by Russian news agencies Interfax and Tass, which said it exposed “inconvenient facts” about the war in Ukraine.
Moscow's narrative is rejected by western allies, who have described Russia's actions as war crimes and asked the International Criminal Court to investigate alleged atrocities.
Ukraine crisis latest — in pictures
Ms Pokalchuk said she had initially hoped to have the report withdrawn and replaced but resigned after realising that would not happen.
“It hurts me to admit it, but the leadership of Amnesty International and I have split over our values,” Ms Pokalchuk said.
“The Ukrainian office was not involved in the preparation or writing of the text of the publication. Every person from the Ukrainian Amnesty office knows that the Russian Federation is responsible for the crimes of aggression against Ukraine.”
Amnesty chief Agnes Callamard, a former UN special rapporteur, said the charity had also extensively documented alleged Russian atrocities during the war.
She said Amnesty's investigations were being attacked by “Ukrainian and Russian social media mobs and trolls”.
That comment angered Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, who said it “won't stop me from saying that its report distorts reality, draws false moral equivalence and the victim and boosts Russia's disinformation efforts”.
Latvia's Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics sided with him in criticising Ms Callamard's remark.
“This is called ignorance, arrogance and incompetence,” he said.
Abu Dhabi GP schedule
Friday: First practice - 1pm; Second practice - 5pm
Saturday: Final practice - 2pm; Qualifying - 5pm
Sunday: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps) - 5.10pm
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
RESULTS
5pm Wathba Stallions Cup Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner Munfared, Fernando Jara (jockey), Ahmed Al Mehairbi (trainer)
5.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Sawt Assalam, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
6pm Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner Dergham Athbah, Pat Dobbs, Mohamed Daggash
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Winner Rajee, Fernando Jara, Majed Al Jahouri
7pm Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner Kerless Del Roc, Fernando Jara, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
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Winner Pharoah King, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
8pm Conditions (PA) Dh85,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner Sauternes Al Maury, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson
Dubai Rugby Sevens
November 30-December 2, at The Sevens, Dubai
Gulf Under 19
Pool A – Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Jumeirah College Tigers, Dubai English Speaking School 1, Gems World Academy
Pool B – British School Al Khubairat, Bahrain Colts, Jumeirah College Lions, Dubai English Speaking School 2
Pool C - Dubai College A, Dubai Sharks, Jumeirah English Speaking School, Al Yasmina
Pool D – Dubai Exiles, Dubai Hurricanes, Al Ain Amblers, Deira International School
Reputation
Taylor Swift
(Big Machine Records)
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UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
'Downton Abbey: A New Era'
Director: Simon Curtis
Cast: Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Maggie Smith, Michelle Dockery, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter and Phyllis Logan
Rating: 4/5
Tottenham's 10 biggest transfers (according to transfermarkt.com):
1). Moussa Sissokho - Newcastle United - £30 million (Dh143m): Flop
2). Roberto Soldado - Valencia - £25m: Flop
3). Erik Lamela - Roma - £25m: Jury still out
4). Son Heung-min - Bayer Leverkusen - £25m: Success
5). Darren Bent - Charlton Athletic - £21m: Flop
6). Vincent Janssen - AZ Alkmaar - £18m: Flop
7). David Bentley - Blackburn Rovers - £18m: Flop
8). Luka Modric - Dynamo Zagreb - £17m: Success
9). Paulinho - Corinthians - £16m: Flop
10). Mousa Dembele - Fulham - £16m: Success
UAE tour of the Netherlands
UAE squad: Rohan Mustafa (captain), Shaiman Anwar, Ghulam Shabber, Mohammed Qasim, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Chirag Suri, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Mohammed Naveed, Amjad Javed, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
Fixtures:
Monday, 1st 50-over match
Wednesday, 2nd 50-over match
Thursday, 3rd 50-over match
