Amnesty Sweden’s co-founder resigns over report critical of Ukraine’s military

Writer Per Wastberg resigned from the Swedish branch of Amnesty International– an organization he had helped co-found in 1964- on Wednesday. The 88-year-old Swede, a human rights activist and member of the Swedish Academy, cited the recent Amnesty International report on the Ukraine war as the reason for his exit.

“I have been a member (of Amnesty International) for almost sixty years. It is with a heavy heart that I end my long and fruitful cooperation due to Amnesty’s statements regarding the war in Ukraine,” he told Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet.

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The report is based on research in Eastern Ukraine from April to July. Condemning the Ukrainian military for endangering civilian lives, researchers observed innumerable instances of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) taking positions in civilian areas, including residential blocks, schools, hospitals and medical centres. Quoting from a statement released on their website, it does not make for good reading:

“Ukrainian forces have put civilians in harm’s way by establishing bases and operating weapons systems in populated residential areas, including in schools and hospitals, as they repelled the Russian invasion that began in February. Such tactics violate international humanitarian law and endanger civilians, as they turn civilian objects into military targets. The ensuing Russian strikes in populated areas have killed civilians and destroyed civilian infrastructure.”

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“We have documented a pattern of Ukrainian forces putting civilians at risk and violating the laws of war when they operate in populated areas. Being in a defensive position does not exempt the Ukrainian military from respecting international humanitarian law,” added Agnes Callamard, Amnesty International Secretary General.

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As per Wastberg, the report oversteps Amnesty’s original mandate, straying from its policy of securing freedoms for political prisoners. “From its inception, Amnesty worked for the freedom of political prisoners everywhere in the world. It has since gradually, sometimes debatably, expanded its mandate and become a different kind of organization,” he added.