Trial Reports

Civil Rights Defenders work to pursue justice for grave international crimes committed in countries across the globe through documentation, capacity building and strategic litigation. We are currently monitoring two different trials taking place in Sweden, providing regular updates from the courtroom.

The Lundin Oil Case – A landmark trial against two former executives at the Swedish oil company Lundin Oil, now Orrön Energy. The two corporate leaders have both been indicted with complicity in grave war crimes committed by Sudan’s regime in what is now South Sudan. Read more about the case in Swedish here and in English here.

The Iran Case – A historic trial against an Iranian citizen suspected of participating in the mass executions and torture of political prisoners in Iran during the summer of 1988 took place in Sweden. Read more about the case in Swedish here and in English here.

The Syrian Brigadier-General Case – A trial against a former brigadier-general in the Syrian army charged with aiding and abetting war crimes through indiscriminate attacks against civilians and civilian property. Read more about the case here.

Read our reports and follow the trials below:

Report 45 – Part II of Alexandre Schneiter’s testimony

Trial Reports
7 April 2025

“Had there been many other times in your career, or later, when you received information that the government that oversaw your protection committed indiscriminate bombings against the civilian populat...

Report 44 – Alexandre Schneiter takes the stand

Trial Reports
11 March 2025

Was the Sudanese civil war made worse by the oil exploration in Block 5A? Who was responsible for the company’s actions? The 6th and 7th weeks of 2025 saw the second indicted private person, Alexandre...

Report 43 – Part III of Ian Lundin’s testimony

Trial Reports
10 February 2025

“I am absolutely convinced that we have done nothing wrong.” This week the prosecution concluded its questioning of Ian Lundin. Lundin was then questioned by the plaintiffs’ attorneys and by his own d...

Report 42 – Part II of Ian Lundin’s testimony

Trial Reports
7 February 2025

During the second week of Ian Lundin’s testimony, the prosecution’s strategy focused on asking him about various security reports, protocols, and letters that showed a connection between Lundin Oil’s ...

Report 41– Ian Lundin takes the stand

Trial Reports
7 February 2025

“Anyone who claims to understand the roots of conflict in Africa is fooling themselves.” This declaration by Ian Lundin could be a fitting theme for the first week of his testimony, or perhaps a quest...

Report 40 – The last plaintiffs before the defendants

Trial Reports
24 January 2025

This week the court heard the last three plaintiffs before the defendants finally take the stand. There are two more plaintiffs still waiting to be heard but both of their court dates have been pushed...

Report 39 – Testimony about the inside of Lundin Oil’s base camp in Rubkona

Trial Reports
20 December 2024

This week the court heard testimony from three different plaintiffs: John Kuiy Tap, Both Guol Nyinyar and Kuol Ruai Kuol. The proceedings were characterised by short but intense testimonies as each pl...

Report 38 – Testimony of Moses Ruai Lat Dak and Angelina Nyador Kuany

Trial Reports
9 December 2024

Summary The 31st plaintiff, Moses Ruai Lat Dak, testified to the court about two different attacks on civilians in and around Block 5A. Moses’s testimony also contained information about how some indi...

Report 37 – The couple who lost everything

Trial Reports
2 December 2024

Summary This week the court heard testimony from Juma Puok Gatkek and Nyakueh Dual Choul, a married couple from the area in and around Block 5A. Since they are married one might have thought that thei...

Report 36 – The testimony of Stephen Matut Gatpan

Trial Reports
22 November 2024

Summary What stands out about this week’s plaintiff’s testimony is, among other things, how detailed and precise it was. Throughout the whole hearing, Stephen confidently told the court what he had se...