«Some of these people may not survive until the end of the political process». Briefing of the People First! campaign

On May 20, a briefing and public discussion took place in Kyiv as part of the international advocacy campaign People First!, which calls for the release of all unlawfully imprisoned civilians, prisoners of war, deported children, and political prisoners held in the Russian Federation and the temporarily occupied territories.

People First! is an initiative demanding that the release of people be made the number one priority in any peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. The campaign is already supported and implemented in various countries around the world by more than 60 institutions, human rights organizations, and networks.

To draw the attention of the international community, we gathered in central Kyiv for an open conversation and joint brainstorming session with leading human rights organizations that protect the rights of people in captivity, as well as representatives of international missions, diplomatic institutions, and global media based in Ukraine.

The discussion, titled «People are not negotiable — put them first!», featured Dmytro Koval, Co-Executive Director of Truth Hounds; Olena Rozvadovska, Co-founder and Chair of the Board of the Voices of Children Foundation; and Oleksandra Matviichuk, Head of the Center for Civil Liberties. The event was moderated by Oleksandra Romantsova, Executive Director of the Center for Civil Liberties.

Dmytro Koval emphasized that occupation is far less about territory and much more about human rights. He illustrated the situation in the occupied territories through the example of the community in Enerhodar, where Truth Hounds has documented widespread torture and other forms of inhumane treatment — both among employees of the nuclear power plant and other residents of the city.

«Enerhodar is an important example because it is part of geopolitical discussions regarding a ceasefire or peace treaty. As you all know, the parties often raise it as one of the key elements of a potential agreement. And for that reason, once again, we see that it’s not only about the territory — it’s also about the people who live there. That is why we need to regain control over the border — because hundreds of the city’s residents continue to suffer under occupation in so many ways», — said Dmytro Koval.

To show that not only adults suffer in the occupied territories, Olena Rozvadovska — who often works near the frontline — emphasized that during Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, which has now lasted more than 11 years, some children have been forced to grow up under the trauma of war and occupation. Among the many stories of children who were stolen, deported, or forcibly transferred, Olena shared one to highlight their experience.

She told the story of a teenage girl whose parents suddenly began supporting Russia after the war started, though they hadn’t before. The girl, however, remained firmly pro-Ukrainian. Taken to Russia, she was promised a bright future — school, university in Moscow or St. Petersburg — but refused to accept it and persistently looked for ways to return to Ukraine. She rejected a Russian passport, which caused a serious conflict at home. Eventually, she fled Russia alone, with the help of her friends and teacher. The scariest part, she said, was being interrogated by FSB officers at the border.

«Most of the children talk about the manipulation they experienced — being told that nothing good awaits them in Ukraine. As a result, many return in a terrible mental state: overwhelmedby frustration, constant tension, difficulties with communication, and problems with trust. So when we celebrate the return of one child, or ten children, to Ukraine, for these children, an entirely new story is just beginning», — said Olena Rozvadovska.

Oleksandra Matviichuk emphasized that, lately, we’ve heard plenty about natural resources — and even President Zelenskyy’s suit — but nothing about people in the political process initiated by the U.S. administration to end Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

«We still need complex answers to complex questions. What will happen to the more than 19,000 Ukrainian children who were illegally deported to Russia? What about the tens of thousands of civilians who have been unlawfully detained? I have personally interviewed hundreds of them. They told me they were beaten, raped, and locked in wooden boxes. Their fingers were cut; their nails ripped off or drilled through. They were electrocuted — sometimes through their genitals.

Knowing these details, you see clearly that some of these people may not survive until the end of this political process because of the torture and inhuman treatment they endure. And what about the millions living under occupation? They exist in a gray zone — deprived of the tools to defend their rights, their freedom, their property, their lives, their children, their loved ones», — Oleksandra Matviichuk.

That’s why the goal of the People First! campaign is to restore the human dimension to international political conversations — and we need your help. During the Q&A session with the international community, the most frequent message was that we must join forces and do everything possible to secure people’s release before it’s too late.

We encourage you to join us by:

• Explaining the campaign’s purpose and demands, in your language, to your government and fellow citizens
• Joining collective advocacy efforts in your country
• Attending offline events and actions to make these demands visible

Thank you for standing with us.