Russia Weaponizes Amnesty International Report for Propaganda

The contentious Amnesty International report dubbed “Ukraine: Ukrainian fighting tactics endanger civilians”, is becoming increasingly weaponized by Russia.

On August 11, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, quoted the report during a special Security Council on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the safety of which is undermined due to Russian occupation and shelling, as an example of Ukraine’s purported malign tactics.

“Amnesty International is being harassed now for the report they produced’, Nebenzya told the Security Council.

Since its publication on August 4, other Russian high-profile officials used the report as a way to legitimize its claims that encompass a wide range of statements – from Ukraine deliberately bombing its civilians to portraying Kyiv’s government as an oppressive one.

Among them is Russia’s Mission in Geneva. On August 10, it published a tweet quoting the report.

“When a civilian is used for military purposes, it turns into a legitimate target for a precision strike. Ukraine continues to do it, but now even @amnesty can’t handle it. Whenever MSM shows you photos of a destroyed school or hospital – always ask: “Who was inside?”

The tweet included pictures of the destroyed maternity hospital in Mariupol where, according to Russia, part of the Azov regiment was located.

Just several days later, Russia’s Mission in Geneva authored another tweet with an Orwellian theme to it, saying “It’s remarkable how the Westerners are eager to tear their own kin to shreds just for voicing alternative viewpoints on the crisis, adding “it’s not enough to obey the Big Brother. You must love him.”

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Orwellian warnings becoming a reality as freedom of thought is being eradicated.”

AI has not issued a public statement on Russia’s attempts to use its report, which is still available on its site, to whitewash its war crimes in Ukraine. Due to the widespread backlash, the organization has asked independent experts to verify the content of its report.

Meanwhile, calls for the resignation of AI’s Secretary General continue and supporters of the international NGO in many countries have declared they will stop donating in protest against the report and the way its publication was handled.