On 5 June 2025, a public discussion How Lustration Can Become One of the Instruments to Overcome the Consequences of the Russian Aggression Against Ukraine was held, organized by the ZMINA Human Rights Center.

The event was attended by experts, human rights defenders, and representatives of state institutions, including: Olha Kuryshko, Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea; Daria Svyrydova, partner at Azones law firm and co-author of the analytical note; Maksym Yelihulashvili, expert of the Ukraine.Five A.M. Coalition; Tamila Tasheva, Member of the Parliament of Ukraine; Oleksandr Kliuzhev, expert on electoral law reform and adviser to the Chairperson of the Central Election Commission of Ukraine. The discussion was moderated by Aliona Lunova, Advocacy Director of the ZMINA Human Rights Center.

In her remarks, Permanent Representative Olha Kuryshko emphasized that addressing the consequences of the Russian Federation’s armed aggression, ongoing for eleven years, remains a significant challenge for Ukraine.

Therefore, since 2022, the Mission, in cooperation with representatives of the human rights sector, expert community, and state authorities, has been working on a vision of how the state should act in the de-occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

“As instructed by the President of Ukraine, the Mission has developed initial steps for restoring the functioning of state institutions, forming a personnel reserve, restoring justice, and documenting citizens with Ukrainian identity documents,” noted Olha Kuryshko.

The document was developed with consideration of international experience and includes elements of transitional justice.

“When we speak about transitional justice, we must remember that lustration is one of its instruments. It cannot be applied in isolation but must be part of a systematic approach to ensuring justice, accountability for those who committed international crimes and facilitated the occupation of the territory, and restoring public trust in state institutions,” emphasized Olha Kuryshko.

Legislation already contains directions for further work. In particular, the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Strategy for the De-occupation and Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol, approved in 2021 and updated in 2023, includes the task of developing mechanisms for lustration of individuals who collaborated with the occupation administrations. Additionally, the Statement of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, adopted on the eve of the Crimea Platform Summit, affirms the approach that Ukrainian citizens should not be subject to persecution or discrimination solely for residing in the temporarily occupied territories.

The event recording is available on the YouTube channel of the Media Center Ukraine.