Interfax: Amnesty International urges human rights violations in eastern Ukraine probed

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MOSCOW. Sept 10 (Interfax) – Amnesty International (AI) human rights organization said it demanded human rights violations, committed by both conflict parties in Ukraine, be investigated comprehensively.

AI calls for immediate investigations of all reports on human rights violations and war crimes, AI Secretary General Salil Shetty said during a news conference in the central office of Interfax on Wednesday.

In July Amnesty International released a report of kidnappings and torture in eastern Ukraine based on the facts gathered between April and June, Shetty said. In particular, the document includes information on human rights violations by militia and Ukrainian troops and contains convincing proof of beatings, kidnappings and torture committed in eastern Ukraine, he said.

According to the UN information, the number of abductions in Donetsk and Luhansk is 220 and people kidnapped are not only servicemen and law enforcers, but reporters, activities and civilians as well, Shetty said.

Amnesty International has released information on human rights violations by volunteer battalions supporting Ukrainian armed forces, Shetty said. In particular, AI reported in Kyiv such violations committed in the northern part of the Luhansk region by the Aydar volunteer battalion and this included a range of different human rights violations, including kidnappings, beatings and forceful disappearances, he said.

AI has also received data on non-selective shootings, as a result of which 1,000 civilians died, Shetty said. We demand such non-selective shootings be probed immediately because it has not been determined precisely from which side they were carried out – apparently, from both sides, the AI secretary general said.

Amnesty International urged conflict parties to hold armed formations from violations of human rights and humanitarian law and to protect civilians.

According to AI, militia in eastern Ukraine is supported by Russia, so Russia is responsible for violations on their behalf. Same as Ukraine is responsible for the violations committed by its servicemen, Amnesty International said.

 

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