Michael O'Flaherty
Michael O'Flaherty is an Irish human rights lawyer who has served as Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe since 2016. Prior to that, he worked extensively at the European Court of Human Rights, directed the Irish Centre for Human Rights at the National University of Ireland, and served as a Special Adviser on human rights at the Council of Europe. He has also been active as an academic researcher in international human rights law.
-
Ukraine proposes Oleshky evacuation, accuses Russia of blocking it as starvation reports mount
Ukraine has proposed a temporary ceasefire and land corridor to evacuate civilians from Russian-occupied Oleshky in Kherson Oblast, but says Russia has rejected the plan. Ukrainian officials describe a humanitarian catastrophe with no food deliveries since late May, cases of starvation, and civilians trapped by mines and shelling, while Kyiv appeals to the UN, ICRC, Council of Europe and Pope Leo XIV for help.
-
Council of Europe rights chief calls for ceasefire, evacuation in occupied Oleshky
Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O'Flaherty has called for an immediate local ceasefire, unhindered humanitarian access, and the evacuation of civilians from the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky in Kherson region, where residents face severe hunger, lack of medicine, water, and electricity. No food deliveries have reached the town since late May, and the only road in is mined and monitored by drones. O'Flaherty cited the Fourth Geneva Convention in holding Russia, as the occupying power, responsible for providing for the population.