For a brief biography of her life please see a Facebook post dedicated to her 100 birthday "Today, my late maternal grandmother, Antonina Krasovskaya, (Antonina Krasowska) would have turned 100."
On the 2nd anniversary of her death I remembered "First they came ..." - a famous statement and provocative poem written by Pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984) about the cowardice of German intellectuals following the Nazis' rise to power and the subsequent purging of their chosen targets, group after group.
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. quotes the following text as one of the many poetic versions of the speech:
"First they came for the Socialists*, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist*.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me."
*But the quotation that's on display is a variation which substitutes "Socialists" for "Communists".
So I thought about my position on war crimes since I turned 21 in 1989 and, as police officer, swore to protect the citizens of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, including my late grandmother and I put together my own personal & amateur rendition of Pastor Niemöller 's masterpiece:
When in 1989 and 1990 U.S. Government troops, agents and allies committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in Panama, I did not speak out-
Because I was not Panamanian.[1]
When in 1999 U.S. Government troops, agents and allies committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in Serbia, I did not speak out-
Because I was not Serbian.[2]
When between 2001 and 2014 U.S. Government troops, agents and allies committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in Afghanistan, I did not speak out-
Because I was not Afghani.[3]
When between 2003 and 2014 U.S. Government troops, agents and allies committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in Iraq, I did not speak out-
Because I was not Iraqi.[4]
When between 2001 and 2014 U.S. Government troops, agents and allies committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in Pakistan (see The Drone Wars), I did not speak out-
Because I was not Pakistani.[5]
When in 2011 U.S. Government troops, agents and allies committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in Libya, I did not speak out-
Because I was not Libyan.[6]
When between 2011 and 2014 U.S. Government troops, agents and allies committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in Syria, I did not speak out-
Because I was not Syrian.[7]
When in the spring and summer of 2014 I came to believe that U.S. Government troops, agents and allies committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in Eastern Ukraine, I debated on whether to speak out.
But if we don't speak out then it'll happen again and again until sooner or later it could happen on U.S. soil to U.S. citizens at the hands of their own government.
Unless we don't care if the U.S., its agents and allies commit war crimes and crimes against humanity [8] abroad against who our government unilaterally considers "bad guys" in our foreign policy or war against terror[9].
When President Obama did not respond to a letter from a Washington, DC based attorney sent by U.S. Postal Service Certified Mail, I sent follow up letters to Vice-President Joe Biden and Secretary of State John Kerry.
But I never received a single reply.
Major Western news outlets were told not to cover the story because of national security concerns.
So who's left and willing to speak for the victims of war crimes and crimes against humanity in East Ukraine?
****
[1] See http://www.counterpunch.org/2014/12/15/the-invasion-of-panama/ and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_invasion_of_Panama
[2] See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO_bombing_of_Yugoslavia
[3] See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:War_crimes_in_Afghanistan
[4] See http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/iraq-war-crimes/ and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legality_of_the_Iraq_War
[5] See https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/22/amnesty-us-officials-war-crimes-drones
[6] See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights_violations_during_the_Libyan_Civil_War_(2011)
[7] See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_massacres_during_the_Syrian_Civil_War
[8] United States war crimes are violations of the laws and customs of war committed by the United States Armed Forces since the signing of the Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907. These have included the summary execution of captured enemy combatants, the mistreatment of prisoners during interrogation, and the use of violence against civilian non-combatants.
War crimes can be prosecuted in the United States through the War Crimes Act of 1996. However, the United States Federal Government does not accept the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) over its nationals, as the United States is not a party to the Court.[1]
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_war_crimes and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_war_crimes
[9] The FBI uses the following definition for Terrorism: "The unlawful use of force or violence committed by a group or individual, who has some connection to a foreign power or whose activities transcend national boundaries, against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives."
Sir Peter Ustinov: "Terrorism is the war of the poor. War is the terrorism of the rich."
*********
August 18, 2015
Barack Hussein Obama II
President
of The United States of America
The
White House
1600
Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington,
District of Columbia
Re: Deaths
of two U.S. Citizens in Ukraine from war crimes and crimes
against
humanity during the summer of 2014.
Mr.
President,
This
is a formal inquiry regarding potential involvement of U.S. politicians, government
officials, employees, military officers and enlisted personnel, contractors and
agents in the current Ukrainian civil conflict and the crimes of war and
against humanity committed therein, including potential involvement in and/or
knowledge of the deaths of two U.S. citizens in Lugansk Region, Ukraine in June
and August of 2014.
My
mother, Ekaterina Krasovskaya (DOB 8/11/1941, also known as Katherine Krasowsky
and Katherine Krasowska), a naturalized U.S. Citizen, died in Lugansk, Ukraine
on June 3, 2014. She died from double pneumonia that could not be treated
properly due to Ukraine Armed Forces’ airstrikes and other military activities
in the Lugansk region.
My
maternal grandmother, Antonina Krasovskaya (DOB 4/16/1916, also known as
Antonina Krasowska), a naturalized U.S. Citizen, died in the village of
Khryaschevatoe, a suburb of Lugansk, Ukraine, on August 10, 2014. She died from
trauma, concussion and shell shock sustained from a Ukrainian Armed Forces
shell that exploded outside the house where she was staying on or about August
5, 2014.
Based
on my information and belief, the U.S. Departments of State, Defense, Justice,
Health & Human Services and the CIA have been aware since last year of the
fact and circumstances surrounding the deaths of my mother and grandmother in
Eastern Ukraine.
I
am a U.S. Citizen of Ukrainian, Russian, and African heritage. I was born in Moscow,
Russia (then the Soviet Union) in 1968 and am a Russian citizen by birth. I
spent the first 4 years of my life in the Lugansk Region of Ukraine. I have
lived for about 18 years in Moscow, Russia, a year in Vienna, Austria and about
24 years in the United States (Philadelphia, New York and suburban Washington,
DC). I am married to a Russian citizen
of Russian-Ukrainian descent and have three children, all dual citizens of
Russia and the United States. As such, I have strong ties to Russia, Ukraine and
The United States.
Based
on my information and belief, the United States has provided extensive
diplomatic, military and intelligence support to the Government of Ukraine (after
the February 22, 2014 ouster of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich) in
planning, preparation, initiation, and waging of military, security and law
enforcement actions against the pro-autonomy (“separatist”) political
leadership, insurgents and their supporters in Eastern Ukraine's Donetsk Coal
Basin (“Donbass”), primarily in Donetsk and Lugansk administrative regions of
Ukraine and the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics based
therein.
Such
monitoring, coordination and support was conducted & provided primarily by
the United States’ diplomatic corps, military personnel, intelligence community
personnel and their contractors & agents to the Ukrainian Government, Ukrainian
Armed Forces (‘VSU”), the Ukrainian National Guard (“NGU”), various Volunteer
Territorial Battalions (“VTBU”), paramilitary groups (e.g. “Right Sector” and
“UNA-UNSO”) and Pro-U.S./EU/NATO political parties & movements,
U.S.
Government support, coordination and monitoring has also extended to Ukraine’s
intelligence, security and law enforcement agencies, including The Foreign
Intelligence Service of Ukraine (“SZRU”), The Security Service of Ukraine
(“SBU”) and The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine (“MZS”).
VSU,
NGU and VTBU, such as the infamous Aydar and Azov battalions, coordinated their
activities not only with the Ukrainian Government and its SBU, but also with
U.S. Government personnel in Ukraine, including Department of State, Department
of Defense (NSA, DIA, USSOCOM and etc.) and Intelligence Community (first and
foremost CIA) personnel, contractors and agents.
Based
on my information and belief, I am concerned that U.S. Citizens, government
entities, NGOs, and private companies and/or their personnel, either directly
or through their agents, may have (a) been aware of, (b) been part of a common
plan or conspiracy to accomplish, or (c) participated in the execution of
certain actions in Ukraine that constitute
-
war crimes,
-
crimes against humanity and other inhumane acts,
-
serious and systemic human rights violations,
-
crimes and violations of applicable state law (including the
United States and Ukraine), intentional treaties, agreements and/or assurances,
hereinafter referred to collectively
as “Unlawful Acts in Ukraine.” Lists of selected documented violations and
applicable international law are attached.
Such
Unlawful Acts in Ukraine have been documented by international human rights
groups, such as Amnesty International (London, UK), Human Rights Watch (London,
UK), The Foundation for the Study of Democracy (Moscow, Russia), Information
Group on Crimes Against The Person (Moscow, Russia) as well as the Russian
Federation Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ “The White Book of Human Rights
Violations and Principles of Rule of Law in Ukraine.”
These
publications are available online and, based on my information and belief, known
to the U.S. State and Defense Departments as well as elements of the U.S.
Intelligence Community, including the CIA. Their English language translations,
if not available already, can be prepared for you by The National Virtual
Translation Center or qualified linguists from other U.S. Government agencies.
I
believe that Unlawful Acts in Ukraine committed by the Ukrainian Government, Ukrainian
Armed Forces (VSU, NGU and VTBU), Ukrainian Security Services (SBU, SZRU and
MZS) and paramilitary groups either caused or contributed to the deaths of my
mother and maternal grandmother last summer.
I
am also concerned that U.S. Government personnel, contractors and/or agents may
have been involved in some inappropriate way or aware of such Unlawful Acts in
Ukraine and did not do what was required to prevent, stop or report such
Unlawful Acts in Ukraine to relevant government authorities for appropriate law
enforcement, prosecutorial or judicial action.
As
a U.S. citizen, an attorney and a former police officer, I cannot sit and do
nothing about the possibility that U.S. citizens and U.S. Government personnel
may be involved in and/or promoting immoral, undemocratic and unlawful conduct
in Ukraine that violates the principles upon which The United States was
established as a country by our founding fathers, including the U.S.
Constitution.
Having
received my undergraduate education at Columbia College, Columbia University in
New York (BA in Political Science with an emphasis on regime change in
developing countries), I believe that the United States cannot remain the
cradle or the champion of true democracy, freedom and equality world-wide – no
matter how solid or noble our geopolitical objectives – if our country is
involved in systemic human rights violations, crimes against humanity and war
crimes in Ukraine, the geographic center of Europe.
Accordingly,
I petition you, as the President of The United States of America, to order all
relevant U.S. Government Departments, agencies and offices, including the U.S.
Department of Justice & its FBI and all elements (members) of the U.S.
Intelligence Community, to
- Conduct an investigation regarding whether any U.S.
Government entity, personnel, contractors and/or agents knew about,
monitored, reported, approved, advised, facilitated (either actively or
tacitly through failure to act), aided & abetted, conspired to commit,
supported, requested, participated in a conspiracy to commit or committed
themselves Unlawful Acts in Ukraine,
- Initiate and/or support criminal prosecution, either in
the U.S. or abroad, of any and all individuals, either U.S. nationals or
foreign citizens, for Unlawful Acts in Ukraine to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law of the United States of America, international
law and laws of all relevant countries, such as Ukraine and the Russian
Federation.
- Take all appropriate measures to ensure that, in the
future, U.S. individuals and entities, both public and private, and their management,
employees, contractors, agents and allies do not become involved in any of
the aforementioned ways in Unlawful Acts on the territory of Ukraine,
regardless of whether such Unlawful Acts are planned or committed by
Ukrainian or foreigner actors.
Please
provide a response to my inquiry as soon as possible by email. Additional
information and supporting documentation regarding my concerns and allegations can
and will be provided upon request in separate correspondence.
Respectfully Yours,
/S/
Gregory Krasovsky, Esq.
Tel: +1-703-xxx-xxxx, Email: krasovsky2015@gmail...
*************************************
1. List
of potential war crimes.
·
Aerial Bombing and shelling of civilian residential areas.
·
Use of unlawful and inappropriate weapons in civilian
residential areas
·
Refusal and/or failure to evacuate civilians prior to or
during military operations.
·
Unlawful detention of civilians and their use as human
shields.
·
Disruption of medical services & Destruction of medical
facilities
·
Disruption of communications & Destruction of
communications infrastructure
·
Disruption of transportation & destruction of
transportation facilities and infrastructure
·
Disruption of Utilities (Water, Electricity, Natural Gas, Sewage
and Heating)
·
Disruption of education services and destruction of educational
facilities
·
Disruption and stoppage of food deliveries
·
Disruption and stoppage of humanitarian aid deliveries
·
Disruption and Destruction of industry and commerce
·
Genocide
·
Ethnic, Linguistic and Religious Cleansing, Silent
Cleansing, community violence
·
Harassment, intimidation, abuse, assault, torture, rape,
manslaughter and murder of civilians.
·
Murder, Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading
Treatment or Punishment of pro-autonomy (separatist) insurgents and supporters.
·
Unlawful means of war meant to demoralize and intimidate
civilian populations (Shock and Awe, Total War, Collective Punishment and etc.)
2. List of Potential crimes
against humanity and human rights abuses
·
Mass Surveillance
·
Selective prosecution
·
Unlawful or arbitrary detentions and arrests
·
Torture (including by “Enhanced interrogation techniques”)
·
Manslaughter and murder of civilians separatists and
supporters (by Death Squads and use of kill lists)
·
Inhumane prison conditions
·
Hiding of prisoners (including at black sites)
·
Denial of access to legal counsel.
·
Harassment, intimidation and persecution of attorneys
representing political opposition and individuals.
·
Assault, detention, torture and murder of Humanitarian
workers.
·
Ethnic Cleansing.
·
Police Brutality.
·
Selective persecutions on
political, ethnic or religious grounds.
·
Restriction on freedom of movement and identity cleansing.
·
Support of hate groups (Right Sector, UNA-UNSO and etc.).
·
Encouragement and support of russophobia, xenophobia and
racism
·
Press censorship and persecution of opposition journalists.
·
Propaganda, disinformation and hate media
3. Interference in and deprivation
of Political Rights
- Unconstitutional or
legally questionable regime change with covert foreign support and participation
- Containment, harassment,
suppression and elimination of political opposition, parties & movements.
- Interference in
Political Affairs by foreign-funded and backed Agents of Influence and Agents
Provocateur
·
Persecution, selective detention, trial and imprisonment of
opposition politicians
- Political
Assassinations
SELECTED INTERNATIONAL LAW ON WAR
AND HUMAN RIGHTS
1. Treaties, Conventions and Statutes
on War Crimes.
- 1907 Hague
Convention IV Respecting the Laws and Customs of War
- Annex to the
Convention: Regulations Respecting the Laws and Customs of War
- 1925 Protocol for
the Prohibition of the Use of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases, and
of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare
- 1945 The Nuremberg
Principles
- 1948 UN Convention
on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide
- 1949 Geneva
Convention I for the Amelioration of the Conditions of the Wounded and
Sick in Armed Forces in the Field
- 1949 Geneva
Convention II for the Amelioration of the Conditions of the Wounded, Sick
and Shipwrecked Members of Armed Forces at Sea
- 1949 Geneva
Convention III Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War
- 1949 Geneva
Convention IV Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of
War
- 1977 Geneva Protocol
I Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and Relating to
the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts
- 1977 Geneva Protocol
II Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and Relating to
the Protection of Victims of Non-International Armed Conflicts
- 1972 Convention on
the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of
Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction
- 1980 UN Convention
on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons
Which May be Deemed to be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate
Effects
- 1980 Protocol I on
Non-Detectable Fragments
- 1980 Protocol II on
Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby-Traps and Other
Devices
- 1996 Amended Protocol
II on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby-Traps and
Other Devices
- 1980 UN Convention
on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons
Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate
Effects
- 1980 Protocol III on
Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Incendiary Weapons
- 1995 Protocol IV on
Blinding Laser Weapons
- 2000 Optional
Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement
of Children in Armed Conflict
- 2003 Protocol V on
Explosive Remnants of War
- 1993 Convention on
the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and use of
Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction
- 1997 Ottawa
Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and
Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction
- 1993 Statute of the
International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for
Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the
Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991
- 1994 Statute of the
International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible
for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian
Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible
for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of
Neighbouring States, between 1 January 1994 and 31 December 1994
- 1998 Rome Statute of
the International Criminal Court
- 2005 Protocol
additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to
the Adoption of an Additional Distinctive Emblem (Protocol III)
- 2008 Convention on
Cluster Munitions
2. Declarations, Conventions,
Covenants and Charters on Human Rights.
- 1948 UN Universal
Declaration of Human Rights
- 1950 European
Convention on Human Rights (The Convention for the Protection of Human
Rights and Fundamental Freedoms)
- 1952 Protocol to the
Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental
Freedoms
- 1953 European
Convention on Social and Medical Assistance
- 1953 Protocol to the
European Convention on Social and Medical Assistance
- 1954 Hague
Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed
Conflict
- Regulations for the
Execution of Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the
Event of Armed Conflict
- 1954 First Hague
Protocol for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed
Conflict
- 1959 UN Declaration
of the Rights of the Child
- 1961 European Social
Charter
- 1966 UN
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
- 1966 International
Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
- 1977 European
Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism
- 1987 UN Convention
against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment
- 1987 European
Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading
Treatment or Punishment
- 1989 UN
International Convention on the Rights of the Child
- 1992 European
Charter for Regional or Minority Languages
- 1999 Second Hague
Protocol for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed
Conflict
- 2006 UN
International Convention For The Protection Of All Persons From Enforced
Disappearance
*************
