Expert Lays Out Case Why Russian Invasion Of Ukraine 'Evolved' Into Genocide
Russian statement "is one of the most explicit statements of intent to destroy a national group as such that I've ever seen,” he says
Editor's Note: The content — including photos — in this story are extremely graphic and deal with apparent war crimes and ongoing genocide in the country of Ukraine. Reader discretion is advised.
Evidence in recent days — particularly from the town of Bucha, some 16 miles outside of Ukraine's capital of Kyiv — points to an effort by Russian troops to commit genocide, and then attempt to cover up the crimes.
This is according to both an expert in genocide as well as world leaders who are leading the international response to Russia's ongoing — and thus far, largely botched — invasion of the sovereign and democratic Ukraine.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said the alleged massacre of Ukrainian civilians by Russian troops in the town of Bucha “doesn't look far short of genocide,” according to a report by Al Jazeera English.
And this is not hyperbole, mere alarmism, according to Eugene Finkel, an associate professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), and an expert in the area of genocide.
“The official legal definition of genocide is ‘acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such.’ When I teach genocide I start by saying that this definition has huge problems because it doesn't give us clear thresholds (what “in part” does even mean?) [sic] and because it is almost impossible to prove intent,” Finkel tweeted this week. “People who carry out genocide are usually not idiots, if there are orders at all they would be given orally.”
There are several things are important to realize about genocide, however, Finkel explained. First, something that doesn't start as genocide might evolve into one when conditions change.
“Russian invasion, in my view, did not start with clear genocidal intent, but evolved into one. Regime change and colonial subjugation are by themselves not enough to constitute genocide,” he tweeted.
Second, more evidence that Bucha is not an exception.
“Each massacre might be local initiative, together they are a campaign. And most importantly, the RIA Novosti (a state outlet) piece is one of the most explicit statements of intent to destroy a national group as such that I've ever seen,” Finkel wrote.
“I know Russian. I have read a lot of Russian nationalist rhetoric in my life. This is not some wild intellectual fantasy, it is a clear, actionable statement of intent by a state agency. The [United Nations] definition is problematic, but in this case it fits like a glove,” he added.
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