GENEVA, October 2026 — On the sidelines of the Geneva Peace Forum, “Art of Peace” successfully held a special discussion platform dedicated to one of the most pressing human rights issues of our time — the fate of Ukrainian civilians who are unlawfully detained on the territory of the Russian Federation.
An important part of the programme was an address to those present by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to Switzerland, Iryna Venediktova. Her participation was of particular importance to the "Art of Peace" team and all participants of the platform, giving the discussion a high profile and once again demonstrating the deep involvement of state institutions in addressing the issue of detained civilians. The Ambassador's speech gave a powerful impulse to the participants of the platform. It demonstrated the synergy between the efforts of Ukrainian state institutions and civil society initiatives on the international stage. “We are sincerely pleased and proud that the Ambassador of Ukraine to Switzerland, Iryna Venediktova, found the opportunity to personally address the event and support our initiative. Our main task today is to use every possible means, through culture, diplomacy and public dialogue, to help and facilitate the return home of every Ukrainian,” said Polina Sommer, President of “Art of Peace”.

The testimonies of eyewitnesses to the atrocities faced by Ukrainian citizens in Russian captivity brought particular emotion and authenticity to the discussion. Pavlo Shmulevich, Liudmyla Plachkova and Tatyana Omelyanenko shared their stories. Filled with pain, their accounts deeply touched everyone present, giving rise to hope that we have the power to change the situation and bring people back to their homeland. It is precisely those who have gone through unimaginable suffering and torment, and the relatives of those who have disappeared in captivity or are being held in inhumane conditions in Russian prisons, who provide documented testimony of what human society must not tolerate in the twenty-first century.
The mission of “Art of Peace” is to help bring people home.
For “Art of Peace”, holding this platform in Geneva — the international capital of humanitarian law — was an important step in advocating for the rights of Ukrainian civilian hostages. Under international humanitarian law, the detention of civilians without formal charges constitutes a serious violation of the Geneva Conventions.

Outcomes of the platform.
During the event and on the sidelines of the Forum, participants discussed.
Tools for cooperation with international institutions to gain access to places where Ukrainian civilians are being detained.
Legal mechanisms for documenting violations of civilians' rights for future international tribunals.
Information campaigns in Europe aimed at ensuring that the issue of detained civilians remains in the focus of attention of Western politicians and the media.
The “Art of Peace” platform at the Geneva Peace Forum once again demonstrated that solidarity and coordinated efforts by diplomats and civil society can break the wall of silence surrounding the issue of Ukrainian hostages. The struggle continues until the last Ukrainian returns home to their family.

Digital Resilience as a New Line of Defense for Democracy: Reflections on the Digitale Resilienz Conference in Bern. (22.09.2026)

The Digital Resilience conference, organized by Art of Peace in collaboration with partners from Switzerland's political, academic, and civil society communities, took place in Bern. The event brought together representatives of the Swiss federal government, European institutions, international organizations, academia, media, and civil society to discuss one of the most pressing challenges facing democracies today: disinformation, foreign information manipulation, and other forms of cognitive influence.
Opening the conference, Swiss Federal Councillor and Minister of Defence Martin Pfister emphasized that Switzerland is itself a target of foreign influence operations. According to him, disinformation and propaganda have become increasingly important instruments of hybrid conflict, making societal resilience a key component of national security.
This assessment was echoed by representatives of European institutions. Peter Wagner, Head of the Service for Foreign Policy Instruments of the European Commission, noted that disinformation is no longer merely a problem of "fake news." Instead, it has evolved into a broader strategy used to undermine public trust, polarize societies, and weaken democratic processes.
Gianluca Esposito, Director General for Human Rights and Rule of Law at the Council of Europe, addressed the wider implications for European democracies. He stressed that foreign interference thrives on uncertainty and social divisions, making the defense of democracy not only a technical challenge but also a societal responsibility that requires a continuous commitment to democratic values.

A central theme of the discussion was the responsibility of digital platforms. Participants highlighted the role that social media and search engine algorithms can play in amplifying manipulative content, emphasizing that major technology companies must take greater responsibility for mitigating risks associated with disinformation and foreign influence campaigns.
The conference also demonstrated a growing cross-party consensus within Switzerland regarding the need to protect democratic institutions from hybrid threats. Political leaders, security experts, researchers, journalists, and representatives of civil society shared perspectives on how democratic societies can strengthen their resilience while preserving fundamental freedoms.
Among the speakers and participants were Martin Pfister, Peter Wagner, Gianluca Esposito, National Councillors Christine Badertscher, Isabelle Chappuis, and Priska Seiler Graf, Benno Zogg, Head of Strategy and Foresight at the State Secretariat for Security Policy, representatives of the media sector, academia, and civil society organizations, as well as members of the Ukrainian diaspora in Switzerland.
The conference was organized by a committee consisting of Polina Sommer, President and Founder of Art of Peace, National Councillor Christine Badertscher, and Ambassador Therese Adam. The discussions were moderated by Polina Sommer and Ambassador Tobias Privitelli, Director of the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD). The event was held in cooperation with the Guido Fluri Foundation.
For Art of Peace, the topic of digital resilience is not only a political issue but also a matter of values. Disinformation, propaganda, the manipulative use of artificial intelligence, and other forms of information influence shape public perceptions, affect decision-making processes, and influence international affairs. Strengthening resilience therefore requires more than legislation and technological solutions. It also demands critical thinking, media literacy, and a culture of open and honest dialogue.
The Digitale Resilienz conference marked an important step in building a platform for informed discussion on contemporary information threats and democratic resilience in Switzerland and beyond. At the same time, participants shared a common conclusion: the work has only just begun.
In an increasingly complex information environment, safeguarding democracy requires sustained cooperation between governments, international organizations, civil society, academia, and the private sector. It also requires the courage to ask difficult questions and the determination to defend democratic values against those who seek to undermine them.
Art of Peace extends its sincere gratitude to all speakers, partners, participants, and volunteers whose dedication made this conference possible. We remain committed to strengthening digital resilience as an essential contribution to democratic governance, human rights, and lasting peace in Europe.
For us, this conference was not an endpoint but a beginning. The conversations initiated in Bern will continue through future projects, partnerships, and initiatives aimed at strengthening society's capacity to resist manipulation, defend democratic values, and build a more resilient future.

Die Vergessenen im Krieg.
Polina Sommer aus Zürich ist Gründerin der Bürgerplattform «Art of Peace», der Vertreter aus Russland, der Ukraine und der Schweiz angehören.
Ukrainische Zivilisten werden schon seit Beginn der Invasion 2014 verschleppt. Dennoch wird über diese Menschen bis heute kaum gesprochen. Ihre Schicksale bleiben häufig im Verborgenen.
Die Schweizer Friedens- und Menschenrechtsorganisation Art of Peace will diesen Menschen eine Stimme geben und damit den internationalen Druck erhöhen. Je höher der Druck, desto grösser die Chance, dass sie freikommen.
Präsidentin Polina Sommer (42) sagt gegenüber Blick: «Pavlo hatte das grosse Glück, freizukommen.» Viele andere würden seit Jahren auf ihre Freiheit warten. Ebenso litten ihre Familien, die seit dem Verschwinden ihrer Angehörigen unermüdlich nach Antworten suchen und für deren Rückkehr kämpfen. Sommer: «Wir werden weiterhin alles in unserer Macht Stehende tun, damit diese Menschen nicht vergessen werden und hoffentlich gesund zu ihren Familien zurückkehren können.»

Pavlo Shmulevych ist ein bemerkenswerter und mutiger Mensch, dessen Geschichte die Realität und das Leid Tausender ukrainischer Bürgerinnen und Bürger widerspiegelt, die derzeit rechtswidrig in russischen Gefängnissen und Lagern festgehalten werden. Diese Menschen erleiden täglich körperliche und psychische Gewalt, Folter sowie systematischen Terror, der darauf abzielt, ihren Geist zu brechen und ihnen ihre Würde zu nehmen.
Wir glauben an ihre Stärke und ihren Mut und daran, dass ihnen Gerechtigkeit widerfahren wird. Ihre Stimmen sind ein Zeugnis dafür, dass selbst unter extremsten Bedingungen die Freiheit des Menschen nicht vollständig unterdrückt werden kann.
«Art of Peace» sowie Hunderte engagierte Menschen weltweit werden Pavlo und allen ukrainischen Bürgerinnen und Bürgern, die von rechtswidriger Inhaftierung und Gewalt betroffen sind, weiterhin zur Seite stehen. Wir setzen uns dafür ein, dass ihre Geschichten gehört werden und ihnen Gerechtigkeit widerfährt.
Polina Sommer
Präsidentin der Stiftung «Art of Peace».

The Abducted and Missing of Ukraine.
«Art of Peace», together with its partners, held an information evening in Zurich titled “The Abducted and Missing of Ukraine,” dedicated to the fate of civilians who have disappeared or are unlawfully detained in Russian prisons. The event took place on 17 March 2026 and aimed to draw the attention of the international community — including Swiss policymakers — to this urgent humanitarian issue and the need to protect the rights of those affected.
The programme featured contributions from Ukrainian and international experts, members of parliamentary and human rights institutions, research organisations, and civil society. Speakers discussed the documentation of violations, mechanisms of international accountability, and the experiences of families whose relatives have been abducted or gone missing.
The evening also included video testimony about the system of unlawful detentions, as well as statements from survivors.
Admission was free, with interpretation provided in English and Ukrainian.

Polina Sommer has established herself as a critical voice against the Kremlin’s regime in Switzerland. Today, she says she is experiencing a sense of disillusionment — not because of Trump, from whom she expected nothing but lies and dishonesty, but because of the Russian opposition itself.
“At the beginning of the war, I thought we would resist with determination,” she says. But she quickly noticed deep divisions: some members of the opposition only want to get rid of Putin, while others — including herself — question the entire Russian political system and clearly support Ukraine.

Journalist and co‑founder of the online media outlet www.forall.swiss, Marina Okhrimovskaïa long focused on topics such as education, culture, and the integration of migrants in Switzerland. But since February 24, 2022, her priorities have changed: “Now I mainly document the war crimes committed by Russia,” she explains.
She hopes that the United States will not turn its back on international justice. “If Donald Trump allows Putin to escape a trial, then he and his successors will feel free to continue their aggression against Europe and the countries of the former USSR,” she warns.
Marina has spent one third of her life in Ukraine, one third in Russia, and the last third abroad. She speaks Ukrainian, Russian, and French, and is currently learning German. “Knowledge of several languages and cultures is a real asset,” she concludes.

Peace for Ukraine?
An engaging and heated discussion took place on the Swiss TV channel SRF about possible pathways to peace for Ukraine. The participants debated how far Donald Trump might go in negotiations with Putin, why the European Union is increasing its armament efforts, what security guarantees Ukraine needs, and what role Switzerland can play in this process.
Participants: Polina Sommer–public figure and head of "Art of Peace".
Roger Köppel–publicist and publisher of Weltwoche.
Markus Somm–editor‑in‑chief of Nebelspalter

“Russians in Switzerland call for a protest against Putin. She lives in constant fear of being poisoned or otherwise attacked. Nevertheless, Polina Sommer, a Russian living in Zurich, is calling for a major anti‑Putin protest . The action is taking place worldwide.”

Vasilii Tsependa:
“The Russian army is not a formidable force but a myth created by Putin’s propaganda.The destruction of a significant part of Russia’s strategic aviation aircraft at airfields located thousands of kilometers from the front line once again demonstrates that the Russian army is not a fearsome power but an awkward myth — an absurd monster created by Putin’s propaganda to serve the dictatorial regime, soothe the average citizen, and intimidate neighboring countries.”
“The yearning of a significant part of Russian society for ‘rising from its knees’ — through strengthening the military, militarizing public life, and demonstratively opposing the civilized world — was not merely exploited by the Kremlin. It was deliberately inflated and steered, turning this sentiment into the foundation of one of the greatest deceptions of recent decades.
Freedom was skillfully replaced with the illusion of security and the belief that the whole world trembles before ‘Russian weapons.’
At the very beginning of what has effectively become his lifelong rule, Putin sensed and began to cultivate a public demand for revenge — a rehabilitation of failed imperial ambitions. He consciously draped young, still democratic Russia in the worn, foul‑smelling hide of previous regimes, instilling in people a false sense of belonging and, at times, even complicity in the crimes of dictators and fallen empires.”

Putin – How far will he go? The annexation of the occupied territories in eastern Ukraine, the partial mobilization, the suspected attack on the Nord Stream pipelines — developments in the war are accelerating. And above all hangs the question: what comes next? How far is Putin prepared to go when he is backed into a corner?
Joining Barbara Lüthi for the discussion:
Sylvia Sasse,Polina Sommer,Marcus Keupp,
Christof Franzen.