Last week, students studying law at the Institute of Jurisprudence, Psychology and Innovative Education had a unique opportunity to listen to a lecture by Samuel Totten. The American history professor, researcher and author of several books about genocides in the world, was in Ukraine to collect testimonies of Ukrainians who became victims or witnesses of Russian crimes.
Samuel Totten is one of the best genocide researchers in the world. The professor conducted research on criminal activities in Rwanda, Sudan and other countries. At the meeting with students, he focused on the genocides of the past and this century (five large-scale crimes against humanity have already occurred in the 21st century).
The researcher primarily focused on the important aspects for lawyers. As he noted, it is important that they understand the specificity and difference between the legal perception of crimes and its interpretation by researchers. After all, mass murders are not always interpreted as genocide by law. Abduction of children, transportation to another country, adoption there, imposing a new language and culture cannot be always interpreted as genocide either. The same applies to tortures or forced eviction.
– When you will work as a lawyer, you must clearly understand how to correctly interpret the law. In my opinion, as a researcher of genocides, what is happening now in Ukraine has signs of genocide. This, in particular, is indicated by the abduction of children to Russia, the imposition of language, culture, and beliefs on them. However, despite the fact that I have been studying genocides for almost 35 years, what I am saying now is only my opinion, – emphasized Professor Samuel Totten. – During these years, I not only study genocides, but also work to ensure that the scoundrels who commit them spend the rest of their worthless lives behind bars. And what I am observing now proves that the stranglehold on Putin’s neck is getting longer.
In 1992, Professor Totten and his colleague published a book dedicated to their research. A month ago, the fifth edition of the book Century of Genocide was published.
The scientist emphasized: in order to recognize genocide according to the law, the accuser must prove that those who committed it, planned to destroy part or all of the people of a certain nationality or ethnic group. The professor explained how to look for evidence that it was genocide:
– Look for instructions to the military where it says to «wipe out», «exterminate», «exterminate to the last». Although often those who commit genocide do not leave direct written instructions. My good friend James Mace, a Harvard University professor who lived in Ukraine for a long time and taught at the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy until his death, researched the Holodomor of 1932–1933. In the archives, he found that there were direct directives from Stalin in Russia that he wanted to wipe Ukrainians off the face of the earth if they did not submit to his desire to take control of Ukraine. The same applies to the Holocaust, although those documents were somewhat veiled. But there were such odious dictators as Milosevic – he literally declared what he wanted to do from the screens. What Putin is doing is very similar to what the Yugoslav oppressor did. I think he will end up in court and get a life sentence. Because the International Criminal Court does not have the death penalty, emphasized Professor Samuel Totten.
