Conference of the Anti-War Committee

On May 21–22, a Conference of the Anti-War Committee was held in Brussels, bringing together opinion leaders, European politicians, journalists, representatives of various civil society organizations and humanitarian initiatives, as well as foundation representatives.

On the first day, active and notable projects were pitched, and a lottery was launched to support fundraising for generators.

One of the key sessions was a discussion on European security, preventive diplomacy, and peacekeeping. The panel touched on various strategic approaches, warning of hidden risks, misconceptions, and undesirable errors. “Only military force can counter military force,” one participant stated.

Three different topics were discussed in working groups:

• Russia, Europe, and Strategy After Putin: How necessary it is for the European community not only to contain Putin’s aggression but also to develop a strategy in case of changes within Russia.
• The Media Working Group explored additional ways to counter Russian propaganda and strengthen the EU's information security. The group also discussed a letter with recommendations for the European Parliament.
• The Human Rights and IT Working Group focused on the possibility of unifying efforts and databases to search for Ukrainian prisoners of war, as well as sanctions against FSIN (Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia) employees involved in torture and killings of prisoners and political detainees.

Another important panel discussed how to achieve political representation in exile — and why it's necessary. The conversation covered not only dialogue with Europe, but also diaspora engagement, reputation-building, and more.

Work with the UN and UNHRC mechanisms is ongoing, including migration support, assistance in extradition cases, and the preparation of expert opinions on various matters.

The most difficult and emotional session was a discussion with recently released Ukrainian prisoners of war who had arrived from Kyiv, sharing the harsh realities of Russian prisons, including torture and abuse. At the same time, they spoke of people within the prison system who still tried to offer help, even in such horrific conditions.

The session opened with a screening of the documentary “A Voice from Captivity,” based on real stories of Ukrainian POWs.

Representatives of the Coordination Headquarters on the Treatment of Prisoners of War from Kyiv also took part in the conference.

By prior arrangement, a meeting of former Ukrainian POWs was also held in the European Parliament.

Photos: Anastasia Khodorkovskaya, Nikita Muravyov
https://www.facebook.com/nikitamur

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