REVIEW OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN SEPARATE AREAS OF LUHANSK AND DONETSK OBLASTS
VOSTOK-SOS.ORG
FEBRUARY, 2017
1. llegal arrests and detentions
2. Development of parallel legal system, advocacy, notary, courts
In February 2017 in separate regions of Luhansk and Donetsk, controlled by armed groups of socalled “LNR” and “DNR” regular facts of human rights violations were identified: illegal detention of civilians, development of parallel legal system. These and other rights abuses have become a “norm” for residents of the territories controlled by the armed groups of so-called “L/D-NR” long ago. 1. Illegal arrests and detentions In January several illegal detentions of civilians were made in the territory of so-called “DNR”. At the beginning of February it became known that the former participant of the art-group “War”, LGBT-activist Oleg Vasilyev, known under the pseudonyms Maria Shtern and Grey-Purple, and activist Victoria Miroshnichenko, who had been heading to Donetsk, were detained by the personnel of security forces of “DNR” while the activists were passing the checkpoint “Uspenka” in January, 31. Oleg and Victoria were detained for inspection after the “security forces” received the information that the activists had intended to arrange LGBT-performance on pacifist topic in frontline area. As activists say, they were subjected to physical and psychological measures during interrogations. In February, 14 Vasilyev and Miroshnichenko were expelled from the territory controlled by illegal armed formations. On the 21st of February the employees of “Ministry of DNR state security” detained the head of the college, associate of Donetsk road transport academy, Nedosekin Valeriy Borisovich, born in 1972, for “espionage for the Ukrainian security services”. He is reported to “submit personal data of military men of DNR to the Ukrainian security services’. In addition, Nedosekin is suspected to collect and transfer information on the movement of military transport, coordinates of important infrastructure objects, data on residents and routes of high-ranking “DNR” officials. 2. Development of parallel legal system, advocacy, notary, courts In the territory controlled by illegal armed groups of so-called “LNR” and “DNR”, so-called “powers” and controlled media continue to inform local people and world community on activity of their “state authorities”. It should be noted that this activity has no legal force and is aimed only at demonstrating the so-called “statehood” in the “republics”. February 3, 2017 “LNR” media reported “The Social Insurance Fund in case of unemployment of LNR” in January of this year helped to employ 1,100 people. It can be concluded from the message that mainly temporary work is being offered. The examples of the so-called “activity” of the authorities of the “LNR” have been demonstrated in the sphere of urban planning and architecture. Therefore, on the 3rd of February, 2017, “delegates of the People’s Council of the LNR” considered and passed in the second reading the bill “On Architectural Activities”. It is reported that the main purpose of the “bill” is the implementation of activities aimed at the development of construction and architecture in the “Luhansk People’s Republic”. The adoption of the “bill” is conditioned by the need to define the legal and organizational principles for the implementation of architectural activities in the “LNR”
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From February 27, 2017 the amendments to the “law” of “Donetsk People’s Republic” “On taxation system” came into force. They obliged non-residents operating in the territory of the DNR” to conclude agreements with tax agents. “DNR” media, explained that the change in the “law” is due to the fact that enterprises that do not have a registration on the territory of the “Donetsk People’s Republic” do not pay tax deductions to the “republic” budget, thus violating the current “legislation”.
REVIEW OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN SEPARATE AREAS OF LUHANSK AND DONETSK OBLASTS
VOSTOK-SOS.ORG
FEBRUARY, 2017
3. Coercion for membership in “public” organizations and participation in “patriotic” and “social” actions of “LNR” and “DNR”. Involving children in propaganda
3. Coercion for membership in “public” organizations and participation in “patriotic” and “social” actions of “LNR” and “DNR”. Involving children in propaganda In February, as well as in previous months, rallies and mass meetings took place on the initiative of the leaders of illegal armed groups. Analyzing published photos and video materials, as well as according to the testimonies of local residents, mainly schoolchildren, students, pensioners, employees of budget organizations and enterprises are involved in mass meetings. Conducted by “powers” events are used as propaganda tool. In Lugansk, controlled by members of illegal armed groups of “LNR” teachers put under psychological pressure on high school children, promoting the benefits of getting the so-called “LNR” passport. “At the class hour, the teacher said that now it is necessary to receive the “documents in Luhansk on a mandatory basis,” said Maria, a student of 9th grade, whose name was changed for security reasons. A certain pressure is exerted on the schoolteachers from the administration of educational institutions in the territory controlled by illegal armed groups. In “LNR” members of youth public organization “Youth for peace” created 17 primary departments in the cities and districts of the “republic”. For the 3rd of February 2017 the quantity of members of youth public organization “Youth for peace” is 603 people. The last month was “rich” with various rallies. Thus, in “DNR” in February 10, 2017 a procession of many thousands was arranged for the funeral of one of the leaders of illegal armed groups, Mikhail Tolstoy (also known as “Giwi”). For this aim, according to the analysis of photo and video materials, schoolchildren, students, pensioners, employees of budget organizations and enterprises were brought by buses. In February 13, 2017 the activists of student labor detachments of “LNR” arranged “flashmob” dedicated to the Day of Russian student detachments, which is celebrated in Russia on the 17th of February. Around 200 representatives of student detachments of the “republic” gathered in the downtown of Luhansk, and made the sentences “Happy RSD Day” (Russian students detachments). In February 18 in “DNR” another mass event was arranged. This time, in Donetsk they marched on the occasion of the second anniversary of the signing of the UN Security Council resolution on Ukraine in support of the Minsk agreements. Again, pensioners, employees of budget enterprises, schoolchildren and students took part in this procession. In February 28, 2017 more than seven thousand “republic” residents, according to local media, gathered in a rally in Luhansk to support the requirement of the heads of the “LNR” and “DNR” to Ukraine concerning termination of the economic and transport blockade of Donbass. As local residents reported, students began to come to the square long before the rally started.
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