Polish Sejm member Malgorzata Maria Gosiewska recently visited the ATO frontline town of Avdiivka, one of Russia-backed terrorists’ targets constantly under artillery, mortar and small arms fire. She is the author of a report on Russia’s war crimes in the occupied Donbas in 2014. In 2015, the 157-page document was submitted to the International Criminal Court. It contained eyewitness accounts and interviews with victims of the aggressor’s brutality recorded during her trip across Donbas in 2014.
On June 8, 2016, Ms. Gosiewska presented her report to the Sejm, saying she hoped the criminals would be meted out punishment, considering that war crimes have no statute of limitations. She stressed that the Russian military is to blame, that there are Russian troops, including spetsnaz, operating in Donbas, using Russian materiel, rather than some unidentified gangs.
In a telephone interview with The Day, Ms. Gosiewska was asked to share her impressions of the recent trip to Donbas.
SEPARATIST COMBAT OPERATIONS AIMED AT CIVILIANS
“When I got there, the shelling was in progress… This was proof that the Minsk agreements were not being observed. This is number one. Number two, the separatists’ combat operations were aimed against civilians. They were destroying downtown apartment buildings. They were not shelling Ukrainian military positions. They were shelling civilian homes and residents, and this is against all the rules and can be qualified as a war crime. It was another crime perpetrated by the Russian Federation. That was my most important observation.
“I was also witness to the local governor’s able performance, I mean the way he solved problems relating to aid to the populace, how quickly he responded to the situation – when it was necessary to replace a destroyed roof or clear the debris after the shelling stopped. I was told that there was a plan for repair and rebuilding, that there were interesting ideas concerning further aid to the region, not only the residents of Avdiivka. People living in that region seldom traveled beyond its borders. Those who did would travel abroad, mostly heading for Russia. It is hard to tell Donbas residents about the European Union, West-oriented policy, democratization, and European principles. They have never been there or seen anything like that. It is time we considered various projects that would enable them to go to Poland; also children, youth, students, and officials’ exchange programs, so people could study and see things in broader perspective. When I return to Poland, I’ll surely study these possibilities, including financial aid for such regions as Kharkiv, central or western Ukraine. I believe the time is ripe.”
BACK TO GATHERING EVIDENCE
How do you think Ukraine should respond to Vladimir Putin’s edict recognizing DNR/LNR passports?
“Frankly speaking, this is further proof that Putin doesn’t give a hoot about what is being said or done in the West. He is laughing in our face while taking one step after the next. Unless the European political community makes a combined effort, unless the Russian Federation is firmly made to face certain conditions, we’ll lose this duel. Putin does not respect people who refuse to have a dialog with him. He isn’t a European politician. Put rudely, the man regards certain principles in an Asiatic way. This is something to be taken into consideration. One has to speak to him from a position of strength, not diplomacy that is standard practice in Europe.”
Ms. Gosiewska, what about your report on Russia’s crimes [in the east of Ukraine] that you submitted to the International Criminal Court?
“The report and evidence testifying to Russia’s crimes were duly forwarded to the Hague. They’re being processed and I hope an appropriate ruling in the case won’t be belated. Not the way it was in the case of Russia’s aggression against Georgia. The report and evidence relate to 2014, but war crimes were committed later and are still being committed. The shelling of Avdiivka is also a war crime. Therefore, it is necessary to resume collecting evidence, drawing up another report that would contain this evidence. This should be an important [counter]argument for those campaigning for the lifting of sanctions against, and re-establishing economic contacts with, Russia. I believe that these criminals, along with Russia’s ranking officials, will be brought to justice and meted out punishment, even if in absentia. We must make sure this happens.”
POLITICIANS IN THE WEST BELIEVE RUSSIA CAN BE CIVILIZED
What do you think should be done to make Europe realize that there is no way to negotiate a truce with Putin or wage a reconciliation policy, that the only way is to act from a position of strength?
“Some in Europe realize as much. We in Poland remember our historical experience. We know what Russia is all about. Regrettably, it hasn’t changed. Its political system and leadership have changed, but its methods remain the same. We know these methods from our bitter [historical] experience. Western Europe doesn’t seem to understand them at all. They keep telling themselves that Russia can be civilized. I remember Russia’s brutal aggression against Georgia, occupying Abkhazia and South Ossetia. It was a blatant violation of international law. So what? Several months later, Russian officials were made welcome in European salons, as though nothing had happened. This couldn’t but encourage Russia to act further in the same vein. I think Georgia was a training ground for [the aggression against] Ukraine. It was also a test for Europe and NATO in terms of adequate response. Unfortunately, the European politicians flunked the test. Putin went further, occupying Crimea and part of Donbas, where the war is still raging. It would do us all good if the politicians started learning from these lessons. Our report and our actions are aimed along these lines. We are faced with Russia’s aggressive and rude propaganda. We have to brace ourselves for it and counteract.”
