Russian Foreign Ministry published a report on the human rights situation in Ukraine
On December 9, the Russian Foreign Ministry published a report on the human rights situation in Ukraine (full text can be found here).
This document is a further effort by the Ministry to draw attention of the international community to a grim human rights situation in Ukraine with no signs of its improvement at this point. On the contrary, systemic violations of basic human rights and freedoms continue to occur there. There is no respect for the right to freedom and personal integrity. There have been multiple instances of unlawful detention, as well as tortures, intimidation, and ill-treatment, including with a view to extorting confessions from detainees.
Under the pretext of combating "Russian aggression" and separatism, repressions against political opponents, independent journalists and media companies, as well as members of civil society organizations unsuitable to authorities, are still going on. To that end, the Ukrainian government actively engages radical nationalist groups.
Course towards support of nationalists
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has opted to continue his predecessor Pyotr Poroshenko’s course towards rewriting history, glorification of Nazism, and erasing the Soviet past. It was reflected not only in rhetoric and legislative initiatives but also in direct support to far right organizations, thus creating conditions for propagation of racism, neo-Nazism and xenophobia.
Such policy creates threats to national minorities. "Human rights activists registered dozens of cases of intolerance and/or aggression against national minorities or people of alternative political views. They are especially concerned over the illegal actions of members of radical nationalist organizations (S14, Right Sector, Traditions and Order, National Corps, OUN, etc.). Their actions with the use of violence are practically ignored by law enforcement agencies. The radicals make no secret of the fact that they coordinate their actions with the Ukrainian Security Council and the interior ministry," the report says.
Situation with the mass media
Journalists in Ukraine are facing serious restrictions and growing pressure from the authorities. The Russian foreign ministry noted that international structures had called on Kiev to ensure the right of free speech but to no avail. The authorities interfere into media activities, practice censorship and block disloyal resources and television channels. Journalists are faced with serious risks to their lives and health.
"According to the latest data from the Physical Security Index of Journalists in Ukraine, as many as 56 cases of physical aggression against journalists were reported in the first nine months of 2020," the document says.
Humanitarian problems in Donbass
Ukraine’s authorities are doing nothing to resolve aggravating humanitarian problems in the southeast of the country. People living in the zones of combat operations have serious problems with access to basic services, such as healthcare, water and heat supplies. Apart from that, they face shortages of decent housing and the lack of mechanisms of legal protection and loss recovery. No pensions and allowance are paid to people living in the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics.
"The biggest problem is that people living on these territories are required to regularly confirm their status on the Kiev-controlled territory. To do that, they have to cross the so-called line of control and spend a lot of time in long queues. Moreover, risks of possible escalation of hostilities are very high in these areas," the document notes.
