Unrest in eastern Ukraine risks ‘seriously destabilizing’ entire country. – Ivan Šimonović, UN rights official

UN, 16 April 2014 – The ongoing unrest in eastern Ukraine, if not addressed as a matter of priority, risks seriously destabilizing the rest of the country, a senior United Nations human rights official warned the Security Council today, as he also urged steps to counter misinformation and bring to an end all incitement to hatred, discrimination and violence.
“At the outset, I wish to emphasize the strong inter-linkages between chronic human rights violations in Ukraine, the Maidan protests and the current situation in the east,” said Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, Ivan Šimonović, as he briefed the Council on his two missions to the crisis-torn country in March. His first report on the human rights situation there was issued yesterday.

Months of political unrest in Ukraine led to the removal by Parliament of President Viktor Yanukovych in February, followed by increased tensions in the country's autonomous region of Crimea, where additional Russian military were subsequently deployed and a secession referendum was held in mid-March, in which the majority of the region's people voted to join Russia.

• This past weekend, tensions flared in eastern Ukraine as Lugansk, Kharkiv and Donetsk and at least 5 other cities in the region were targeted by uprisings and the seizure of Government buildings. Media reports suggested large numbers of Russian troops deployed along the border with Ukraine, and, in the city of Slovyansk, where the police station was seized, protesters reportedly demanded a referendum similar to the poll held in Crimea. 

• Mr. Šimonović told the Council today that almost a third of the population in Ukraine lives under the poverty line and “huge disparities” in standards of living and inadequate access to social services attributing to corruption and mismanagement were among the underlying factors that led to the Maidan protests.

“Protests that started in Kyiv and swept across the rest of the country from November 2013 to February 2014 revealed a deep-rooted sense of dissatisfaction in the people of Ukraine,” he said, explaining that violence by the security forces against pro-European protesters in Kyiv on 30 November 2013, created outrage and led to the radicalization of the demonstrations, as well as to clashes between the protesters and police. 

“Legislation that curtailed freedoms of expression and assembly enhanced a sense of impunity by police was rushed through the Rada (parliament) in mid-January and led to violent actions by some protesters as well,” said Mr. Šimonović, adding that progress is still being made on bringing the perpetrators of human rights violations to justice. Some 121 persons had been killed and 100 people still remain unaccounted for.........etc............http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=47601&Cr=ukraine&Cr1=#.U09RF6Jql5Y
16/4/14
------------------------------------------

• Four-party talks in Geneva aims to de-escalate Ukraine situation. --The issue of federalization of Ukraine was not on the agenda.

• White House: Ukraine actions against separatists warranted. -- The Ukrainian government has the responsibility to provide law and order

• Ukraine : le pays est « au bord du gouffre », avertit un haut responsable de l'ONU. -- Ban Ki-moon a parlé au téléphone lundi matin avec le Président par intérim ukrainien

• Ukraine: UN rights office urges halt to propaganda, incitement to hatred. -- “A number of measures taken in Crimea are deeply concerning from a human rights perspective,”

------------------------------------------

• Next report on human rights in Ukraine to be presented May 15 - UN official

A next report on the situation with human rights in Ukraine would be presented on May 15, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Shimonovich said on Wednesday.
He urged everybody possessing information about human rights violations to share it with UN observers who are now in Ukraine.
[itar-tass.com]