Amnesty International scandal: Ukraine office head resigns

[blue-wave]

Amnesty International Ukraine Head Oksana Pokalchuk has decided to leave her post due to scandal over Amnesty International’s statement about the Ukrainian Army’s actions in the war with Russia.

Read more including her statement here: https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-polytics/3544545-amnesty-international-scandal-ukraine-office-head-resigns.html

[SunSeeker]

1. She fucked up. Her inaccurate statement ended up used as Russian propaganda.

Do better. Bye.

[mathematic]

3. She's resigning in protest because the main org didn't listen to the ukrainian branch

Click the link

[SunSeeker]

4. I did. Why'd she give the main org the Russian side of the story before getting the Ukrainian side?

In her words, the press release issued by Amnesty International on August 4, 2022, should have considered two parties and taken into account the position of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry. Amnesty International asked the ministry for a commentary but provided very little time to respond. Hence, the organization created material that sounded as support for Russian narratives. Seeking to protect civilians, that survey became an instrument of Russian propaganda instead.

Why did she give the main org the Russian side of the story before getting the Ukrainian side of the story? Why did she let the main org's deadline for all info on the incident pass without getting some kind of Ukrainian statement, even if not from the Defense Ministry. What did she think would happen?

Resigning after the shit hit the fan isn't exactly an act of protest. Sounds like she just fucked up.

But don't get me wrong, I think Amnesty International fucked up too. They should have known better than just running with the Russian version of events, even if they did it to "protect civilians." Legitimizing ANYTHING the Russian military is doing with regard to Ukraine only endangers civilians. Agnes Callamard needs to go.

[mathematic]

5. Then you misread it. She didn't do the things you say she did.

First of all, just stop defaming this woman please.

I'm struggling to see how you're misreading this:

“It is painful to admit but I and the leadership of Amnesty International have split over values. Hence, I decided to leave the organization. I believe any work for the good of society should be done taking into account the local context and thinking through consequences. Most importantly, I am convinced that our surveys should be made thoroughly and with people in mind, whose lives often depend directly on the words and actions of international organizations,” Pokalchuk wrote.

In her words, the Ukrainian office tried to convey information about the war unleashed by Russia against Ukraine to the leadership of Amnesty International.

“Even yesterday, I had a naïve hope that I would be able to fix everything. That we would hold even 200 meetings but explain, reach out and convey our opinion. And that text would be deleted, and another one would appear in its place. Today I have realized this will not happen,” Pokalchuk noted.

While misconstruing the final paragraph you quoted.

That paragraph says Pokalchuk is criticizing the statement made by Amnesty International, which was released contrary to her advice (see the prior paragraph where she says she had hoped the statement condemning Ukraine was deleted).

How are you misreading anything in that link as Pokalchuk giving "the Russian side"? She didn't let any deadline pass. Amnesty International didn't give the Ukrainian Defense Ministry enough time to respond. Pokalchuk was working to get the Ukrainian side heard and Amnesty International shut her down. This is why the very first thing in the link is the quote, "It is painful to admit but I and the leadership of Amnesty International have split over values."

[SunSeeker]

9. Pokalchuk admits she didn't get the Ukrainian side to the main org in time.

If she couldn't get a statement from the Defense Ministry in the shortened time frame she was given, she should have gotten some other official with knowledge from Ukraine to give a statement.

I'm not defaming her. I'm repeating the facts at the link in the OP. If you think the article is inaccurate, take it up with the OP. I didn't post the OP.

[blue-wave]

11. "Pokalchuk was working to get the Ukrainian side heard and Amnesty International shut her down."

Spot on. I don't know what people are not understanding about this situation. Thanks for attempting to help others understand.

[kcr]

7. You are mistaken

It looks like you're confusing Oksana Pokalchuk with Agnes Callamard.

[SunSeeker]

10. No, I'm not. I think they both fucked up and should go.

Last edited Sat Aug 6, 2022, 12:49 AM - Edit history (1)

Oksana Pokalchuk for not getting at least SOME refuting statement from a Ukrainian official in the short time frame she was given, and Agnes Callamard for running with the Russian version when she should have known better.

[Crunchy Frog]

6. She was not the one who fucked up.

She was cut out of the process and her criticisms were ignored.

Agnès Callamard is the one who needs to resign.

Here's a link to a good article.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/aug/05/zelenskiy-and-envoys-attack-amnesty-report-on-endangering-civilians-in-russia-crossfire

[SunSeeker]

8. I agree with you that Agnes Callamard needs to resign.

As I said up the thread.

[BootinUp]

2. K&R