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DPALondonFollowing a controversial report accusing Kiev’s military of endangering civilians with its fighting tactics that sparked widespread criticism, human rights organisation Amnesty International wants to reappraise its study.External experts will thoroughly review the process, according to a Saturday statement by the organization seen by DPA.On Thursday, Amnesty International accused the Ukrainian army of putting civilians in danger by setting up military bases in residential areas as it fends off Russia’s war, launched by Moscow in February.At the same time, Amnesty stressed that “such violations in no way justify Russia’s indiscriminate attacks, which have killed and injured countless civilians.” While the report was widely covered by Russian media loyal to Kremlin, it was slammed by Kiev. Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said it was a shame that Amnesty was participating in a Russian propaganda and disinformation campaign aimed at stopping Western arms supplies.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Amnesty of victim blaming in his Thursday evening video address, adding that anyone involved in such efforts “cannot but realize that it helps the terrorists.” The organization continued to defend its report but said it was regretting the “pain and anger” it had caused.Amnesty International’s German branch criticized that the results had “not been communicated with the sensitivity and precision” that should be expected from the organization. Details on the process of the audit are to be determined by the Amnesty board next week, after the various national organisations have had a chance to give their input - including the Ukrainian branch, whose head Oksana Pokalchuk resigned in protest after the report was published.
