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UN notes lack of progress in investigation of Odessa tragedy on 2 May 2014

More than 200 people were injured while 48 lost their lives as a result of the tragedy the south Ukrainian city of Odessa saw on May 2, 2014

People laying flowers during an event commemorating victims of the Odessa tragedy Arkhip Vereshchagin/TASS

People laying flowers during an event commemorating victims of the Odessa tragedy

© Arkhip Vereshchagin/TASS

GENEVA, March 3. /TASS/. No progress has been made in investigating the Odessa tragedy of 2 May 2014 which resulted in the death of 48 people, according to the UN Report on the human rights situation in Ukraine from 16 November 2015 to 15 February 2016 published in Geneva on Thursday.

"No progress has been observed in ensuring accountability for the 2 May 2014 violence in Odessa, which resulted in the death of 48 people. State actors have failed to take appropriate measures to ensure effective investigations of the events and to protect the independence of the judiciary," the report said.

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"The investigations into the events have been, at various stages, characterized by general institutional deficiencies, procedural irregularities indicating a lack of willingness to genuinely investigate or prosecute those responsible, and both direct and indirect political interference suggesting deliberate obstruction and delay of judicial proceedings," OHCHR added.

"OHCHR is deeply concerned that the process of police reform interrupted the investigations into the 2 May 2014 clashes in Odesa, the burning of the Trade Union Building, and the negligence of the Fire Brigade in responding to the fire," the report noted.

The tragedy at the Odessa House of Trade Unions occurred on May 2, 2014. A sign-up campaign in support of a referendum turned into clashes between nationalist activists of the Right Sector and the Maidan self-defense groups on the one side and federalization supporters on the other side. The clashes resulted in the local House of Trade Unions being set on fire. More than 200 people were injured in the tragedy while 48 lost their lives.

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