14:37
16.5.2014
14:02
16.5.2014
Oleksandr Hurov, a 36-year-old coal miner from Novohradovka in eastern Ukraine, says he was kidnapped and tortured by pro-Russian rebels after he took down a separatist flag from the main government building in his hometown. Speaking to RFE/RL at a hospital in Kyiv, Hurov said his captors tried to scrape off a tattoo on his arm with colors associated with the ultranationalist groups and the words, "Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the heroes!"
He said: "You could hear screaming coming from every room. They were torturing people everywhere." From our Ukrainian Service:
He said: "You could hear screaming coming from every room. They were torturing people everywhere." From our Ukrainian Service:
13:58
16.5.2014
RFE/RL's Tatar-Bashkir Service tells us that Putin's meeting today was with essentially pro-Kremlin Crimean Tatars, unsurprisingly. Participants included MPs Lentun Bezaziev and Edip Gafarov; a former head of the anti-Mejlis group Milli Firka, Waswi Abduraimov; Milli Firka member Dilawer Akmullayev; and the head of the Crimean Generation group, Ruslan Balbek. The delegation was headed by de facto Crimean parliament head Vladimir Konstantinov.
13:44
16.5.2014
13:34
16.5.2014
Interfax says Russian President Vladimir Putin has emerged from a meeting with Crimean Tatars offering a qualified assurance and warning against using that community as "a bargaining chip" with Kyiv.
The quotes are:
The quotes are:
"There is one aspect I must definitely draw your attention to. We, the federal and regional and local authorities, are ready to work with all the people who sincerely -- I want to stress that -- aspire to ensure that people live a better life on their land.
"But in no way can we allow the Crimean Tatars to become a bargaining chip in some disputes, including interstate ones, especially in those between Russia and Ukraine."
"But in no way can we allow the Crimean Tatars to become a bargaining chip in some disputes, including interstate ones, especially in those between Russia and Ukraine."
13:08
16.5.2014
Here's more of the UN human rights watchdog's statement warning of an "alarming deterioration in the human rights situation in the east of [Ukraine], as well as serious problems emerging in Crimea, especially in relation to the Crimean Tatars." It also highlights the worsening media climate.
The full report can be found here.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay...called on “those with influence on the armed groups responsible for much of the violence in eastern Ukraine to do their utmost to rein in these men who seem bent on tearing the country apart.”...
While noting that many peaceful rallies and demonstrations continue to take place in Ukraine, the report describes “an increasing tendency in some critical urban areas for rallies of opposing groups to be held simultaneously, often leading to violent confrontations.” It also notes “repeated acts of violence against peaceful participants of rallies, mainly those in support of Ukraine’s unity and against the lawlessness in the cities and villages in eastern Ukraine. In most cases, local police did nothing to prevent violence, while in some cases it openly cooperated with the attackers.”
Listing numerous specific examples of targeted killings, torture and beatings, abductions, intimidation and some cases of sexual harassment – mostly carried out by well-organized and well-armed anti-Government groups in the east – the report also draws attention to missing persons, including 83 still unaccounted for after disappearing during the events related to the original “Maidan” protests in Kiev. In the east, there has been a worrying rise in abductions and unlawful detention of journalists, activists, local politicians, representatives of international organizations and members of the military, the report says. While some have subsequently been released, the bodies of a number of others have been dumped in rivers or other areas, and some remain unaccounted for. The problem has been especially marked in and around the town of Slovyansk, in the Donetsk region, with a group called the ‘Slovyansk self-defence unit’ heavily implicated.
The report also notes cases when the State Security Service and army units operating in the east have been accused of killing individuals and of being responsible for forced disappearances. “Security and law enforcement operations must be in line with international standards and guarantee the protection of all individuals at all times,” the report says, adding that “Law enforcement bodies must ensure that all detainees are registered and afforded legal review of the grounds of their detention.”
While noting that many peaceful rallies and demonstrations continue to take place in Ukraine, the report describes “an increasing tendency in some critical urban areas for rallies of opposing groups to be held simultaneously, often leading to violent confrontations.” It also notes “repeated acts of violence against peaceful participants of rallies, mainly those in support of Ukraine’s unity and against the lawlessness in the cities and villages in eastern Ukraine. In most cases, local police did nothing to prevent violence, while in some cases it openly cooperated with the attackers.”
Listing numerous specific examples of targeted killings, torture and beatings, abductions, intimidation and some cases of sexual harassment – mostly carried out by well-organized and well-armed anti-Government groups in the east – the report also draws attention to missing persons, including 83 still unaccounted for after disappearing during the events related to the original “Maidan” protests in Kiev. In the east, there has been a worrying rise in abductions and unlawful detention of journalists, activists, local politicians, representatives of international organizations and members of the military, the report says. While some have subsequently been released, the bodies of a number of others have been dumped in rivers or other areas, and some remain unaccounted for. The problem has been especially marked in and around the town of Slovyansk, in the Donetsk region, with a group called the ‘Slovyansk self-defence unit’ heavily implicated.
The report also notes cases when the State Security Service and army units operating in the east have been accused of killing individuals and of being responsible for forced disappearances. “Security and law enforcement operations must be in line with international standards and guarantee the protection of all individuals at all times,” the report says, adding that “Law enforcement bodies must ensure that all detainees are registered and afforded legal review of the grounds of their detention.”
The full report can be found here.
12:59
16.5.2014
12:25
16.5.2014
12:15
16.5.2014
From our newsroom:
Based on reporting by Reuters and ITAR-TASS
UN monitors in Ukraine said there has been an "alarming deterioration" in the human rights situation in the eastern part of the country and report serious problems in Russian-controlled Crimea.
In a report issued on May 16, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said "those with influence on the armed groups responsible for much of the violence in eastern Ukraine" [must]...rein in these men who seem bent on tearing the country apart."
It added that there are "serious problems" of harassment and intimidation facing the Tatar community in Crimea.
Russia's Foreign Ministry said in the report lacked any "objectivity" and was full of "double standards" that proved that it was trying to "whitewash" the activities of the Kyiv government.
Information for the report -- which covered the period of April 2 to May 6 -- was gathered by 34 UN monitors in Ukraine.
In a report issued on May 16, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said "those with influence on the armed groups responsible for much of the violence in eastern Ukraine" [must]...rein in these men who seem bent on tearing the country apart."
It added that there are "serious problems" of harassment and intimidation facing the Tatar community in Crimea.
Russia's Foreign Ministry said in the report lacked any "objectivity" and was full of "double standards" that proved that it was trying to "whitewash" the activities of the Kyiv government.
Information for the report -- which covered the period of April 2 to May 6 -- was gathered by 34 UN monitors in Ukraine.
Based on reporting by Reuters and ITAR-TASS
12:07
16.5.2014