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    #20 and #21 Archived Message

    Posted by Ian M on July 31, 2022, 12:05 am, in reply to "Project: to find 29 examples of the BBC failing 'due impartiality' in Ukraine reporting"

    Steve Rosenberg finds another dissident...

    #20: One Russian's anti-war protest on side of his shopping centre, May 20th:





    Newsreader: 'The red cross has registered hundreds of Ukrainian prisoners of war who left the besieged steel works in Mariupol. The Russian authorities say all those surrendering will be treated in line with international standards but there are fears the fighters could face prosecution by president Putin's courts.

    Steve Rosenberg: 'Tired and wounded, Moscow released these images of Ukrainian fighters leaving the steel works they'd been defending in Mariupol, giving themselves up to the Russians. Ukraine is hoping for a prisoner swap but in Russia there are calls to put some of the soldiers on trial for war crimes.'

    Yevgeny Popov, Russian MP: 'They are killers, they are criminals, but we give them medical care.'

    Steve Rosenberg: 'But your country invaded Ukraine with more than a hundred thousand troops. That's aggression isn't it?

    Yevgeny Popov: 'No, it's not an aggression, it's not an aggression, don't bully us.'

    Steve Rosenberg: 'Moscow tries to justify invading Ukraine with a false claim that it's gone in to fight nazis. A war crimes trial could shore up an unconvincing narrative. The Kremlin wants Russians to believe that in Ukraine their army is battling nazis and NATO, Europe and America were all plotting away to attack and destroy the motherland. And there are many here who believe this parallel reality but not everyone does.

    Dmitry Skurikhin admits that his country, Russia is the aggressor. He is appalled by the bloodshed and wants his whole town to know it. He's transformed the outside of his shop into a message board with the names of Ukrainian towns Russia's attacked: Kherson, Irpin [?], Kiev. Peace to Ukraine it says. He's even turned his roof into the Ukrainian flag.

    *****

    Brief comment from Russian authorities assuring prisoners will be well treated but otherwise free reign given to indulge fears about politicised war crimes trials. Rosenberg has no trouble making categorical statements about 'false' or 'unconvincing' Russian claims to be fighting nazis and the 'parallel reality' of it also being a proxy war with Western powers. These aren't balanced by any analyst pointing to the extent of fascist activity in Ukraine, especially the armed forces and security, or by anyone pointing out the documented history of western manipulation of Ukrainian politics to serve its interests and undermine Russia. Compare to this video reporting solemnly on a Ukrainian war crimes trial sentencing a 21 year old soldier to life imprisonment for allegedly killing a civilian:

    #21: Russian soldier jailed for life for killing civilian in first Ukraine war crimes trial, May 23rd:





    Newsreader: 'A Russian soldier has been given life in prison for the murder of a 62 year old Ukrainian man. Vadim Shishimarin is the first person to stand trial for war crimes since the start of Russia's invasion. It comes as president Zelensky of Ukraine told the world economic forum that Russia should be punished for its invasion of his country in order to discourage future international aggression. Our correspondent Joe Inwood has the latest.

    Reporter Joe Inwood: 'This was a moment of great significance, the first Russian soldier officially declared a war criminal, twenty-one-year-old Vadim Shishimarin sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Oleksandr Shelipov. The Russian tank commander had admitted killing the 62 year old but said he was simply following orders. A Ukrainian court disagreed and gave him life. But almost at the same time another announcement was being made here in the capital. There will be real anger at the news that the defenders of Azovstal, men who are considered national heroes for their defense of Mariupol, are to be tried in what's being called an international tribunal in the Donetsk People's Republic. The news was made by Denis Pushilin, the leader of the breakway region. We haven't got more details yet but it could be he's referring to all of the fighters or just the leadership.

    *****

    No fears of a politicised trial here - indeed the quote from Zelensky appears to show endorsement of using judicial punishment as a 'discouragement' - not balanced by any Russian viewpoint. Joe Inwood is fully embedded in the Ukrainian perspective as ever, even appearing to get angry himself when describing the reactions of people in Kiev to the prospect of Ukrainian soldiers (likely many of them from the openly fascist Azov battalion that was defending Mariupol) facing trial in Russia. Presumably he wouldn't blandly note their sentencing as 'significant', noting simply that a 'Russian court disagreed' with their defense before handing out a harsh punishment. Maybe we'll get a direct comparison?

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