05:42
19.6.2014
And on the UN OHCHR's new report on "the breakdown of law and order in the areas held by armed groups" via our newsroom:
UN monitors in eastern Ukraine say they've recorded a steady rise in killing, tortures, and abductions by pro-Russian armed groups.
UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Simonovic said "a climate of lawlessness prevails in the east."
According to a fresh report, at least 356 people, including 86 Ukrainian soldiers, have been killed in the past month.
The document largely covers the period from May 7 to June 7 and is the third to be produced by the 34-strong UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission since it was deployed to Ukraine in March.
UN human rights chief Navi Pillay said that a "climate of insecurity and fear" has displaced 34,000 people, nearly half in Ukraine's eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, which have declared independence from Kyiv.
Pillay urged pro-Russian armed groups in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions to “stop taking themselves, and the people living in their regions, down this dead end.”
Simonovic said the government reported that armed groups in the east had abducted 387 people in the east from April to June 7, including 39 journalists.
UN monitors, however, were able to confirm only 222 abductions, including four people who have been killed, 137 who have been released, and 81 who remain in detention.
Simonovic also noted a rise in reports of enforced disappearances and excessive use of force during Ukrainian government security operations "that have led to casualties among civilians, which we continue to investigate."
Simonovic told a briefing on the report at the International Peace Institute in New York on June 18 that representatives of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic have for the first time admitted that among their fighters are some volunteers from Russia, most from Chechnya or Cossacks.
The OHCHR report also notes that Crimea residents "known for their 'pro-Ukrainian' position are intimidated" and adds that leaders and activists of the indigenous Crimean Tatars face prosecution and limitations on the enjoyment of their cultural rights.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said the report presents a "one-sided and politically biased interpretation of events."
He called a recommendation that Ukrainian authorities should carry out antiterrorist operations "in accordance with international standards" hypocritical and outrageous.
Simonovic said the UN is not "neutral" on human rights because it always sides with victims and against perpetrators.
UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Simonovic said "a climate of lawlessness prevails in the east."
According to a fresh report, at least 356 people, including 86 Ukrainian soldiers, have been killed in the past month.
The document largely covers the period from May 7 to June 7 and is the third to be produced by the 34-strong UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission since it was deployed to Ukraine in March.
UN human rights chief Navi Pillay said that a "climate of insecurity and fear" has displaced 34,000 people, nearly half in Ukraine's eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, which have declared independence from Kyiv.
Pillay urged pro-Russian armed groups in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions to “stop taking themselves, and the people living in their regions, down this dead end.”
Simonovic said the government reported that armed groups in the east had abducted 387 people in the east from April to June 7, including 39 journalists.
UN monitors, however, were able to confirm only 222 abductions, including four people who have been killed, 137 who have been released, and 81 who remain in detention.
Simonovic also noted a rise in reports of enforced disappearances and excessive use of force during Ukrainian government security operations "that have led to casualties among civilians, which we continue to investigate."
Simonovic told a briefing on the report at the International Peace Institute in New York on June 18 that representatives of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic have for the first time admitted that among their fighters are some volunteers from Russia, most from Chechnya or Cossacks.
The OHCHR report also notes that Crimea residents "known for their 'pro-Ukrainian' position are intimidated" and adds that leaders and activists of the indigenous Crimean Tatars face prosecution and limitations on the enjoyment of their cultural rights.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said the report presents a "one-sided and politically biased interpretation of events."
He called a recommendation that Ukrainian authorities should carry out antiterrorist operations "in accordance with international standards" hypocritical and outrageous.
Simonovic said the UN is not "neutral" on human rights because it always sides with victims and against perpetrators.
05:47
19.6.2014
05:50
19.6.2014
06:04
19.6.2014
Interfax reports (and a look at the ministry's website confirms) that Ukrainian Energy and Coal Industry Minister Yuriy Prodan and Naftogaz CEO Andriy Kobolev discussed possible reverse gas flows and other topics with Hungarian Foreign Minister Tibor Navracsics and National Development Minister Miklos Sesztak when they met yesterday on the sidelines of an energy-security forum in Budapest.
The ministry says "the parties agreed on the advisability of increasing gas supplies to Ukraine in Hungary."
The ministry says "the parties agreed on the advisability of increasing gas supplies to Ukraine in Hungary."
06:08
19.6.2014
Newly elected Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko runs his first city council session today. Euromaidaners are protesting outside.
06:16
19.6.2014
07:03
19.6.2014
Says, "Now. Rally at parliament."
08:14
19.6.2014
Ukrainian government forces are engaged in fresh fighting with pro-Russian separatists near the town of Krasnyi Lyman.
Defense Ministry spokesman Vladislav Seleznyov said the fighting began after the separatists rejected a call for them to lay down their arms.
Seleznyov reported casualties among government troops, adding that separatist forces suffered "heavy losses."
Defense Ministry spokesman Vladislav Seleznyov said the fighting began after the separatists rejected a call for them to lay down their arms.
Seleznyov reported casualties among government troops, adding that separatist forces suffered "heavy losses."
08:19
19.6.2014
In case you missed it last night, our newsroom picked this up from South Ossetia's RES new agency:
Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia, itself almost wholly unrecognized as an independent state, has announced its recognition of the "Luhansk People's Republic" as a sovereign, independent country.
South Ossetia -- which is recognized as independent only by Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Nauru -- said its leader, Leonid Tibilov, signed a decree on June 18 following an appeal from the so-called Supreme Council of the Luhansk People's Republic.
Pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine's eastern Luhansk and Donetsk provinces seized local administrative buildings in April and proclaimed "people's republics."
Russia has not recognized the self-proclaimed entities.
South Ossetia and Georgia's other breakaway region, Abkhazia, were recognized as independent by Russia after the brief Russia-Georgia war in 2008.
South Ossetia -- which is recognized as independent only by Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Nauru -- said its leader, Leonid Tibilov, signed a decree on June 18 following an appeal from the so-called Supreme Council of the Luhansk People's Republic.
Pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine's eastern Luhansk and Donetsk provinces seized local administrative buildings in April and proclaimed "people's republics."
Russia has not recognized the self-proclaimed entities.
South Ossetia and Georgia's other breakaway region, Abkhazia, were recognized as independent by Russia after the brief Russia-Georgia war in 2008.
08:36
19.6.2014