The Russian Federation appointed collaborator Yevgen Balytskyi as governor of the occupied part of the Zaporizhzhia region in May 2022. Since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, he began working for the occupiers. In a recent interview, Balytskyi openly admitted that the Russian occupation authorities carried out forced evictions of Ukrainians and confiscation of their property and also used "harder" methods of combating dissidents.
Previously, Balytskyi stated that Russia should seize the Baltic countries, Finland and Poland, because "Russian Empire subjects" live there.
The editors of online.ua investigated, through the evaluations of leading international and Ukrainian lawyers and experts, why Balytskyi's confession is evidence of the illegal appropriation of property by the Russian occupiers and how it makes ground for the transfer of Russia's frozen assets to Ukraine.
According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Balytsky's statements about the illegal eviction of Ukrainian citizens who criticise the Russian occupation indicate that these actions are aimed at russification and confiscation of the property of the population in the occupied part of Ukraine through coercion and fear.
Balytskyi's willingness to openly discuss — and even defend — the Russian occupation authorities' illegal treatment of Ukrainian citizens in a publicized interview underscores the extent to which the Russian authorities support and promote such policies.
Illegal eviction and confiscation of property by Russia
In an interview published on Feb. 20, Balytsky said that the Russian occupation authorities "evicted a large number of families."
We evicted a large number of families. It was very difficult to do. Those who in one way or another did not support “SMO” (special military operation), those who insulted the flag, the anthem of Russia, and the president of the Russia were evicted, — the collaborator said.
British lawyer and head of the international Payback4Ukraine campaign, Dr Jason McCue, emphasises that Balytskyi's blatant confirmation of what was so apparent to the rest of the world — Russia's policy of seeking to erase Ukrainian culture and Ukrainians from their lands — underlines that the Russian government does not respect international law and has no intention of returning to international fold or the rule based of law based system.
It perhaps predicates their acceptance of the failure of their "special operation" to take all of Ukraine.This perhaps indicates a new desperate attempt to entrench their illegal occupation around their current positions. It shows the only way for the Russian government to save face is to cement such positions by ejecting Ukrainian opposition and culture that would otherwise threaten and defeat their continued occupation from within.
Dr. Jason McCue
British lawyer, head of the Payback4Ukraine campaign
In an interview, occupation governor Balytskyi justifies the actions, which, according to ISW, are war crimes, brazenly asserting that the forced deportation of Ukrainian families was carried out “for their benefit”.
Whole families were evicted, because we understood that these are people whom we cannot convince, and we will have to deal with them even more harshly. Their lives may be in great danger. So it's better to let them go to the "Banderstadt" and build their "gayworld" there, — said occupation governor.
Ukrainian journalist Denys Kazansky emphasises that the open recognition by the Russians that Ukrainians who don't want to go to Russia are forcibly evicted are the methods of the Nazis during the Second World War.
Balytskyi testified about the torture and execution of Ukrainian civilians
Occupation governor Balytsky also stated that the Russian occupation authorities had to make "extremely tough decisions" — a possible hint that the Russian occupation forces were executing Ukrainian citizens.
We hit and hit hard. And, unfortunately, sometimes I had to make extremely tough decisions, which I will not talk about yet, — admitted Balytskyi.
The Ukrainian MP Inna Sovsun emphasises that Balytskyi openly declares that people who oppose the occupation will be deported. Moreover, he also alludes to the executions of Ukrainian residents of Melitopol.
The pro-Russian protege also added that people in the occupation were checked by the so-called "state security service", which was created by the FSB during the occupation. They were looking for those connected in one way or another with the Ukrainian government or the army. Such people were often tortured.
The collaborator confirmed that the occupation authorities of the Russian Federation "gave the opportunity to leave" but evicted some families by force.
Well, what [can we] do with a woman with three children who has different beliefs? She doesn't consider Russia her homeland. Well, should we kill her? It is clear that we simply pushed them out, we read our decision, the commandant's decision, and sent them away. Let them live as they want, — said the Russian protege.
Ex-envoy of Ukraine's President for children rights (2014-2021) and the NGO SaveUkraine founder, Mykola Kuleba, notes that Balytskyi's interview can be considered vital for those looking for evidence of the genocide of the Ukrainian people and potential violations of international law, such as the Geneva Conventions.
An active opponent of Putin's regime and the war in Ukraine, former world chess champion Harry Kasparov notes that Balytskyi boasts about war crimes, which the Kremlin's servants in the West still try to deny.
Forced passporting of Ukrainians
Another crime of the occupiers is the forced passporting of Ukrainian citizens. However, according to the National Resistance Center, the plans for passporting, particularly in the Zaporizhzhia region, could not be implemented as of June 2023.
According to Ivan Fedorov, the head of Zaporizhzhia RMA, the occupiers planned to complete passporting by Jan. 1, 2024.
Indeed, this doesn't mean that 100% of our citizens who remained in the occupation will take this Ausweis. But today, you cannot take a single step without hindrance (in the occupied territories — ed.) if you do not have a Russian passport.
Ivan Fedorov
head of Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration (RMA)
Ukraine's Parliamental Commisioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets notes that forced passporting violates the norms of international law and the Geneva Convention on the Protection of the Civilian Population in Time of War.
The Russians use various methods of coercion to obtain a Russian passport, including refusal of employment and medical services.
On Feb. 29, 2024, Balytsky issued a new "decree" prohibiting hiring foreign citizens in certain areas, including Ukrainian citizens who refused to give Russian passports.
In another interview, Balytsky said that medical care would be refused to people with a Ukrainian passport in the occupied Zaporizhzhia region from the beginning of 2024.
Why confiscation of Russia's frozen assets is legal
About €300 billion are frozen globally, which this or that relation to Russia. Their largest share — €260 billion — is the sovereign Russia's assets in the European Union and the G7 countries.
€210 billion are placed in financial institutions Euroclear and Clearstream in Belgium and Luxembourg.
Dr. Jason McCue notes that the idea has shifted from a “long-term confiscation process for Ukrainian reparations to immediate confiscation for the Ukrainian war effort.
The emphasis shifts from the general "for Ukraine" to "help in winning the war" (defence), humanitarian efforts and reparations in international statements about the purpose of such assets.
However, it is vital to manage the expectations because if all the Russian assets under sanctions are confiscated for wartime and state needs, what will be left to finance reparations to the population?
According to McCue, the interests of the war would be better served if part of the confiscated assets were simply directed to reparations for the population.
Political scientist and director of the World Policy Institute Yevhen Magda, commenting on Balytsky's statements about confiscating property in the occupied territories, says that the intellectual abilities of Kremlin collaborators can sometimes serve Ukraine well.
This is very useful amid the Western world's deliberations on whether or not to confiscate Russian assets currently frozen in the West. One of the priorities should be investigating whether collaborators like Balytskyi have property in the West, whether it can be confiscated and what can be done in general in this case. This is the basis because I realise that political responsibility for the West today is quite tricky, but we need to do it, and I am sure we will do it. Ukraine will create new grounds for confiscating relevant property, traitors first of all, and property of the aggressor.
Evgen Magda
Political scientist and director of the director of World Policy Institute
Not the first Yevgeny Balytskyi's incriminating confession
It is worth reminding that it is not the first time that Balytsky has given an interview in which he publicly admits to the war crimes of the Russian occupiers.
In October 2023, the Gauleiter of the Zaporizhzhia region proudly told how Russia is taking grain elevators and land from local farmers and handing them over to the occupiers.
Ukrainian journalist Denys Kazanskyi notes that among such "taken" enterprises are "Berdyanski Zhnyvarky" and "Azmol." These enterprises belonged to Medvedchuk's associate, Oleksandr Ponomaryov, an MP from the forbidden pro-Russian political party "Opposition Platform—For Life", who is in the SSU detention centre for treason. So, his friends are "taking" his business for themselves while he is in custody.
In another case, the Russian protege went even further, declaring that Russia should seize the Baltic states, Finland and Poland, because "Russian Empire subjects" lived there.
