Moscow Bureau for Human Rights criticizes Kiev’s policy

The Moscow Bureau for Human Rights has developed a report on the humanitarian aspects of the ongoing Ukrainian conflict. The report analyzes the dynamics of the military and political confrontation in Donbas, violations of human rights during military activities in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, and general political trends which dominate in Ukraine and without which it is impossible to assess the scale of the humanitarian tragedy which is happening in front of the “civilized world” in the center of Europe.

The Director of the Moscow Bureau for Human Rights, member of the Presidential Council for Civil Society Institutions and Human Rights, member of the Presidential Council for Interethnic Relations, Alexander Brod, says that a concentration of troops at the boundary line is observed, skirmishes are constantly under way. Ukrainian militias have also attacked the territory of Donetsk airport. Horlivka, Donetsk and other settlements came under fire.

The report by the Moscow Bureau for Human Rights consists of several chapters. One of them is the Military and Political Configuration between Inactivity and Escalation. It characterizes the regular firing on the territory of Novorossia and the constant violation of the Minsk Agreements. The report also mentions the food and economic blockade of Crimea.

On December 31st 2015, the period expired for implementation of a package of measures on implementation of the agreements on the settlement in Donbass. Out of its 13 items, none was carried out completely, and in the course of telephone conversations of representatives of the so-called Normandy format it was decided to extend the implementation of the peace plan for 2016. “But the military confrontation could break out once again with renewed vigor. That is why it is too soon to be calm, and for the entire coming year we will continue to visit the territory of Novorossia, communicate with our colleagues in Ukraine, and speak about these monitoring reviews, statements, at various international platforms,” Alexander Brod promised.

In December 2015 the UN monitoring mission for human rights in Ukraine published its 12th report, in which it showed specified data on losses during the armed conflict in Donbass. According to this report, in the period from April 2014 about 9100 people died and 20,732 people received injuries of varying severity. The number of refugees has exceeded 2.5 million people, most of whom took refuge on the territory of Russia.

“The data, which is being received from Novorossia about victims, about destruction, including of innocent civilians and destruction of civil infrastructure facilities, is much more frightening and disturbing than the one that was announced in the documents of the United Nations,” the expert says.

“We see that the Minsk Agreements are constantly being violated. And in this report, first of all, our bases were the speeches of senior officials of Ukraine, who have constantly, at all possible forums and discussion platforms, positioned their country as an outpost of the Western world, which opposes the barbaric aggression of imperial Russia. Meanwhile, in their practice, the Kiev authorities are constantly violating fundamental rights: a respectful attitude towards different political opinions, towards the civic position, and most importantly – the right to life and security,” Alexander Brod states.

Characterizing the policy of the Ukrainian authorities, he cites a deputy of the Verkhovna Rada, Hanna Hopko: "We look forward to the strengthening of sanctions. Our task is to stall for time. We must drive the Russian economy into a state of absolute hopelessness, until the oligarchs who surround Putin and the others understand that the aggression against Ukraine was their biggest mistake. The Russian Empire will fall after facing the endurance and wisdom of Kievan Rus."