Russia urges Kiev to implement UN human rights recommendations

MOSCOW, September 20 /TASS/. Russia has urged Kiev to be responsible in implementing the recommendations of the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Miission in Ukraine, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday commenting on the mission’s regular report.

"We are urging Kiev to act with full responsibility and implement the recommendations prepared by the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

"For our part, we continue to believe that strict implementation of the Minsk agreements is the only way to improve the situation in Ukraine, especially in its eastern regions, and reach sustainable and durable peace," the Russian Foreign Ministry said. 

Moscow feels worried over growing civilian casualties in southeastern Ukraine the UN human rights observer mission registered last summer: 

"We’ve read the 15th report of the UN observer mission on human rights in Ukraine covering the period of May 16 to August 2016. One cannot but feel regret and deep concern over the UN monitors’ findings civilian casualties showed growth of late," the Foreign Ministry’s commentary runs. "The UN experts issued a very timely call addressed to Kiev to ensure control of the independent paramilitary groups along the engagement line."

"Moscow shares the concerns, conclusions and recommendations of UN experts regarding such human rights violations committed by the Ukrainian side, in particular, its armed forces and secret services, as the use of torture and other cruel treatment at detention centers under Kiev’s control, arbitrary detentions, the keeping of detainees in isolation with the outside world and sexual and gender-based violence."

In that connection Russia "welcomes the resumption of the visit to Ukraine by the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture" that was interrupted last May, which, as the Foreign Ministry hopes "will be able to impartially evaluate the depth of the existing problems and achieve a situation where the Ukrainian authorities will guarantee the operation of the penitentiary system in compliance with the internationally recognized rules of humanitarian law and human rights."

"One cannot but feel concern about the Ukrainian citizens’ living conditions in the wake of Kiev’s decision to backtrack on its basic human rights obligations," the Foreign Ministry said. "According to the United Nations, such an approach has already disrupted the whole system of protecting the population’s rights."