Symposium on Accountability and Disinformation in Russia’s War Against Ukraine

Holding Russia accountable for its war crimes in Ukraine must remain a policy priority. On 29 April, the Stockholm Centre for Eastern European Studies (SCEEUS) hosted a symposium in collaboration with The Reckoning Project, titled “Russia’s War Against Ukraine: Accountability and Disinformation in a Turbulent World.”

The first part of the symposium brought together international experts, policymakers, and human rights advocates to discuss Russia’s war, global impunity, and the fight against disinformation. Camilla Waltersson Grönvall, Sweden’s Minister for Social Services, also took part in the event. The closing remarks were delivered by Ukraine’s Ambassador, Andrii Plakhotniuk.

Photo: SCEEUS

In the evening, a public event was held at Kulturhuset. Opening remarks were given by Benjamin Dousa, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, who underscored Sweden’s commitment to justice for victims of war crimes in Ukraine. The event featured a keynote address by Oleksandra Matviichuk, Head of the Center for Civil Liberties, who emphasised the urgency of breaking the cycle of Russian impunity. Russia’s systematic war crimes — not only in Ukraine, but also in Syria and Chechnya — were a central theme in the subsequent panel discussion. The discussion explored why and how Russia must be held accountable, noting that recent technological developments have enhanced the ability to document atrocities in real time, making Ukraine a uniquely documented conflict.

Photo: SCEEUS

Panellists included Janine di Giovanni, CEO of The Reckoning Project; Fredrik Wesslau, Distinguished Policy Fellow at SCEEUS; Pablo de Greiff, Member of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine; Peter Pomerantsev, Executive Editor of The Reckoning Project; and Sevgil Musayeva, Editor-in-Chief of Ukrainska Pravda. The discussion was moderated by journalist Karin Hübinette.

The symposium was organised by The Reckoning Project, in cooperation with SCEEUS and with the support of the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs.