To do this, he believes that the precise definition of the word genocide must first be examined. “It depends on what we call contextual elements,” he says. «The genocide is a so-called specific intenttherefore a specific intent not only to kill someone, but to do so in a context where an entire or protected group is being targeted.’
De Roon cites the protected group of Ukrainians as an example. “But the question is whether or not Russia is committing genocide,” he continues. “Were the crimes and violence used against Ukrainians designed to exterminate Ukrainians?”
Difficult consideration
According to De Roon, it is above all a difficult decision. “At first I also thought they just wanted to win the war, and I honestly don’t remember. It’s always a tough decision.’
To make such an assessment, examine the existing facts. For example, he calls it obvious that people in that group of “protected” Ukrainians are being killed and that there is a “forced transfer of children”. “This too is an element of genocide,” she continues. “That children are being kidnapped and given up for adoption in Russia. These are acts of genocide, but they only count as genocide if there is a specific intent to destroy a group.”
denazification strategy
Van Roon therefore foresees a very complicated situation when the war is over, especially with regard to Putin’s denazification strategy. ‘What exactly does Putin mean by this?’ he wonders. “If it’s just that he wants to wield power there, or he just wants to take part in De Krim, then it doesn’t exactly look like genocide.”
But, he notes, talk of denazification strikes a different chord. “If they really want people to stop identifying as Ukrainians, in other words, turn everyone who is Ukrainian into a Russian, then there could be genocide.” But that is something for a judge to decide in the future.’