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Russian Foreign Ministry: Kiev does not give up disastrous idea of Donbas blockade

The special regime in the conflict zone continues to hinder the work of human rights organizations and makes people risk their lives in attempts to get social security benefits

© AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka

GENEVA, September 29. /TASS/. Despite the ceasefire in the conflict zone, the humanitarian situation in eastern Ukraine and the human rights situation throughout the country "remain alarming," Director of Russian Foreign Ministry’s Department for Humanitarian Cooperation and Human Rights Anatoly Viktorov told the 30th session of the UN Council on Human Rights in Geneva on Tuesday.

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"Ignoring numerous complaints from international humanitarian and human rights organizations, including UN monitors, Kiev has not abandoned the disastrous idea of the economic blockade of Donbas," he noted. The special regime of movement in the conflict zone introduced by the authorities "continues to hinder the work of human rights organizations and makes people risk their lives in an attempt to get social security benefits."

The reports of the UN mission contain "numerous violations of human rights by the Ukrainian military and mercenary battalions: torture, extrajudicial executions, abductions and arbitrary detention." However, "the investigation of these crimes is actually not carried out, this is confirmed by monitors as well," the Russian diplomat said.

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