Section: Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group (Ukraine)
Kremlin-backed militants free blogger accused of ’extremism’, others still held hostage for pro-Ukrainian stand
53-year-old Hennady Benitsky has been released several months after being seized by militants from the so-called ‘Luhansk people’s republic’ [LNR], who have not terminated their charges of ‘extremism’. Edward Nedelyaev, who was arrested earlier, remains in militant custody, as do others seized for a pro-Ukrainian position and...
Russian state TV in absurd denial over thousand-strong protests, mass arrests
State-controlled media in Russia proved considerably easier to control than the tens of thousands of citizens on March 26 who joined anti-corruption protests called by Alexei Navalny, despite the likelihood of arrests and gratuitous violence from OMON riot police and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s own ‘National Guard’ personal...
EU must reinstate sanctions after Belarusian dictator’s violent crushing of Freedom Day protests
If the Belarusian authorities hoped to prevent their crushing of Freedom Day protests being monitored by detaining 57 international observers, they should have used less gratuitous violence against both the monitors and hundreds of other peaceful protesters …read more Source: Kharkiv Human Rights Protection...
Killing of Kremlin whistle-blower Voronenkov removes vital witness for Ukraine
While it remains unproven who carried out the brazen killing of ex-Russian MP Denis Voronenkov in Kyiv on March 23 or why, it is certainly true that Ukraine has lost a valuable witness willing to give damaging testimony about ex-President Viktor Yanukovych and Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. …read more Source: Kharkiv Human...
Russia’s weapons of Ukraine’s destruction were not “found in Donbas mines”
Russia’s claim at the Hague that the Donbas militants were using Soviet weapons found hidden (together with 700 tanks?) in mines did not get the attention it warranted. The Western media have largely opted for a ‘Kyiv accuses’ and ‘Moscow denies’ format, even when this means ignoring considerable video footage of Russian...
Menacing FSB interrogations of Ukrainian Cultural Centre activists in Russian-occupied Crimea
Four members of the Ukrainian Cultural Centre have faced FSB interrogation in a move that seems clearly aimed at intimidation and at labelling any pro-Ukrainian activities, however unpolitical, as ‘extremist’. Another activist is facing possible criminal charges for a photo on her social network page with a Ukrainian flag. …read more...
Open Letter to the President of the Republic of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenka
We, 48 undersigned organizations from 24 countries, strongly condemn the continuing wave of detentions and harassment of peaceful protesters, journalists, human rights defenders, civil society activists, anarchists and opposition party members in Belarus. …read more Source: Kharkiv Human Rights Protection...
Parliament pass law that could help Yanukovych avoid justice while hurting Ukrainians
It is unlikely that President Petro Poroshenko will veto a law that he has himself lobbied for, but that is precisely what civic activists are demanding. Draft law No. 5610, passed by the Verkhovna Rada on March 16, will not help bring ex-president Viktor Yanukovych to justice, while seriously narrowing Ukrainian citizens’ rights, they warn...
Ukraine lawmaker calls on USA to investigate new ‘evidence’ of secret payments to Manafort
Paul Manafort is under scrutiny again after a Ukrainian lawmaker released documents he says show that U.S. President Donald Trump’s former campaign chairman went to great lengths to hide $750,000 tied to his work for former President Viktor Yanukovych. …read more Source: Kharkiv Human Rights Protection...
Ukrainian journalists detained in Moscow with student beaten for Ukrainian flag
Two Ukrainian journalists were held in a Moscow police station for around 3 hours on Tuesday evening, together with the Russian postgraduate student beaten by the FSB for waving a Ukrainian flag during state-organized festivities marking the anniversary of Russia’s annexation of Crimea …read more Source: Kharkiv Human Rights...
