The supremacy of violence

UN experts accused the separatists in eastern Ukraine of numerous human rights violations

On Monday, the Office of the Supreme Representative of the UN Human Rights was published by another expert report on the situation in the east of Ukraine. The document contains numerous facts of human rights violations. Observers of the UN have the main responsibility for crimes against the civilian population to armed groups supporting the self -proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics.

Most of the UN observers reports the indictment of the UN. It covers events from June 8 to July 15. "The egregious violations of human rights took place in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions of Eastern Ukraine ... Hundreds of people were abducted, many of the victims were tortured. The number of murders of civilians increased." Experts write about the conscious actions of the separatists who destroy key objects of infrastructure of settlements under their control: water supply, electrical substations, treatment facilities. Public and private property confiscated, housing was destroyed. The separatists robbed banks, seized coal mines, exploded railways. “The principle of supremacy of violence has come to replace the principle of the rule of law,” experts concluded.

"The principle of supremacy of violence has come to replace the principle of the rule of law"

The UN experts came to the conclusion that armed groups that control the eastern regions of Ukraine began to use the techniques and tactics of professional military. Previously, motley detachments of separatists with various interests, representing different forces, have now passed under the control of those who have the experience of hostilities in Chechnya and Transnistria. Many of them are Russian citizens.

UN experts evaluated the actions of the Ukrainian army, which, as a result of an intensive offensive, begun after a ten -day truce, restored control over part of the territory of the eastern regions. And although the Ukrainian government does everything possible to ensure the safety of civilians, it was not possible to avoid victims among the local population, experts write. The UN report contains many calls to the government of Ukraine to investigate all such cases, as well as do everything necessary to protect civilians.

Some actions of separatists can qualify as war crimes

"Armed groups leading military operations in the east of Ukraine are obliged to fulfill international laws, but, unfortunately, this does not happen. They have the most serious violations of human rights. They subjected the population to intimidate and terror in order to maintain control over the territories," the report said. UN experts note that some actions of separatists can qualify as war crimes, for example, an attack from military equipment located in densely populated city quarters.