FUVI exist for 4 years
“Reflecting on Russian War Crimes in Ukraine”
International Symposium
On Friday, February 20, at the Maison de la Chimie in Paris, to mark its 4th anniversary, FUVI chose to co-organize an international symposium with the law firm of Nicolas Ligneul, Ph.D. and Director of Research, which drew significant attention.
The symposium focused on the rights of Ukrainian victims since the Russian invasion and sought to bring together medical, legal, and institutional perspectives to gain a concrete understanding of what it means to “be a victim” in this context. The central idea was to move beyond a purely theoretical approach to law and instead examine how victims’ rights are established, asserted, and implemented—from the initial trauma through to international proceedings.
The morning session began by addressing the issue of trauma. Doctors and specialists explained the neurological and psychological consequences of wartime violence, as well as the essential precautions to take when collecting testimonies to avoid “re-traumatization.” An important point was raised: justice, especially after mass crimes, cannot repair everything, but it plays a foundational role in reconstruction.
The discussion then turned to evidence collection and methodology. Ukrainian speakers described the practical difficulties of interviewing witnesses, documenting crimes, and preserving evidence, all while respecting the dignity of the victims. The destruction of the education system and the specific situation of children were also discussed, highlighting that the harm is not only physical but also institutional and generational.
The afternoon focused on the legal treatment of victims. On the one hand, at the national level: the role of the French and Ukrainian parliaments, among others. On the other hand, at the international level: proceedings before the International Criminal Court, actions at the UN, and challenges related to the effective participation of victims in proceedings. The discussion also addressed war propaganda and its effects, as well as possible forms of rehabilitation.
Finally, the Ligneul law firm, in close cooperation with FUVI’s research department, is already preparing a scholarly publication that will, on the one hand, enshrine the legal advances achieved during this study day, and on the other hand, lay the groundwork for future missions to Ukraine to bring FUVI’s expertise to bear on addressing the countless war crimes committed by Russia.
The FUVI team would like to extend special thanks, in no particular order, to:
- Nicolas Ligneul, Doctor of Law, Habilitated to Supervise Research, Senior Lecturer with HDR (UPEC), Attorney at the Paris Court of Appeal, Habilitated to Plead before the ICC.
- Stéphane de La Rosa, Director of the MIL Laboratory—Markets, Institutions, Freedoms. University Professor of Public Law, University of Paris-Est Créteil
Ms. Marion Trousselard, MD, PhD, HDR, Professor of Neuroscience and Cognitive Sciences, School of Practicing Psychologists—75006,
Paris, France; Human Adaptation Institute—13002, Marseille, France; University of Lorraine; Inserm; INSPIIRE; UMR 1319; Armed Forces Biomedical Research Institute, Brétigny-sur-Orge, France; ADES; Aix-Marseille University.
Ms. Olga Altunina, Representative of the Ukrainian Parliament, Human Rights Commissioner, Director of the Office of War Crimes.
Dr. Pierre Foldes, Co-Chair of the Commission on Violence Against Women, Hospital Surgeon, Urological Surgeon.
Ms. Yevgeniya Mnyshenko, PhD, Doctor of Law from the University of Leipzig, Attorney in Ukraine, Member of the National Disciplinary Commission of the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine.Ms. Aurore Malet-Karas, PhD in Neuroscience—Sexologist, therapist, and trainer. Specialist in sexual violence.
- David Piguet Squadron Commander (ret.), former OSCE Regional Director for Western Ukraine, President of GMC.
Ms. Nataliia Yatskiv, Doctor of Letters, Professor of Literature, Dean of the Faculty of Letters at Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University.
- Arnaud de Nanteuil, (via video), Professor at the University of Paris-Est Créteil; for the past decade, he has taught international economic law, international arbitration law, and international investment law. Specialist in investment arbitration and author of leading publications in the field. Arbitrator at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).
- Gregor Rathkolb, a member of the Vienna Bar, holds a Mag.iur. and an LLM.
- Dmytro Suprun (via video), counsel at the Independent Office of the Public Counsel for Victims (BCPV) within the Registry of the International Criminal Court (ICC). He holds a Ph.D. in law and has published numerous articles on issues related to human rights and victims’ rights.
- Dean Yurii Mykytyn, Director of the Institute of Law at the Faculty of Law of Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University.
- Serhiy Adamovich, Director of the Center for Documentation and Research on War Crimes at the Law Faculty of Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University.
- Malo Le Bihen, Ph.D. candidate in history, specializing in security and defense.
- Stéphane de La Rosa, Professor of Law at the University of Paris-Est Créteil, Director of the MIL (Markets, Institutions, Liberties) research team.
Ms. Valerie Nykyforets, Founder of the Together UA Empowerment and Rehabilitation Center (a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and rehabilitating individuals through psychological, social, and educational programs).
Ms. Irina Kopanitsa, Board Member of the RIWE (Refugee International Women Empowerment) Foundation in Bulgaria (whose activities focus in particular on combating human trafficking and protecting human rights). Co-founder of the Trainers Association of Ukraine, a Ukrainian NGO working in the field of educational projects and psychological rehabilitation.
Member of the supervisory board of an American health tech company developing innovative software based on artificial intelligence, designed to assess the mental state of military personnel through the analysis of facial expressions.
Ms. Anna Vyshniakova, International criminal defense attorney, President of the NGO LingvaLexa. Founded in 2023, LingvaLexa is an organization committed to combating propaganda-related offenses that escalate into serious international crimes during armed conflicts. The organization works closely with the relevant authorities to enhance the effectiveness of investigations and contribute to the implementation of criminal proceedings in accordance with international standards.
