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Amnesty International reports warring sides in eastern Ukraine ‘enjoying impunity’

Accorsing to an Amnesty International report, neither the Ukrainian military, nor representatives of the self-proclaimed republics have been punished for crimes committed during the conflict

Local residents in a house damaged in a night shelling attack in Eastern Ukraine Mikhail Sokolov/TASS

Local residents in a house damaged in a night shelling attack in Eastern Ukraine

© Mikhail Sokolov/TASS

LONDON, February 22. /TASS/. Neither the Ukrainian military, nor representatives of the self-proclaimed republics have been punished for crimes committed during the course of hostilities, Amnesty International said in a report assessing the 2016 human rights situation.

"Both the Ukrainian and pro-Russian separatist forces continued to enjoy impunity for violations of international humanitarian law, including war crimes, such as torture," says the report published on Wednesday.

No law enforcement officials prosecuted over Maidan events

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Ousted Ukrainian leader Yanukovich proposes holding referendum on Donbass status

Amnesty International pointed out that "little progress was made in bringing to justice law enforcement officials responsible for the abusive use of force during EuroMaidan protests in Kiev in 2013-2014." "The investigation was marred by bureaucratic hurdles. On 24 October, the Prosecutor General reduced the staff and the powers of the special department responsible for the EuroMaidan abuses investigations, and created a new unit to investigate only former President Viktor Yanukovich and his close confidants," the report reads.

Amnesty International goes on to say that "the new State Investigation Bureau was formally created in February to investigate crimes committed by law enforcement officials and the military, but the selection of its head, on an open competition basis, was not completed by the end of the year."

Waves of unrest in downtown Kiev touched off in late 2013. Organizers of the protests taking place on Independence Square (or Maidan Nezalezhnosti) accused the then-President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovich of abandoning the idea to sign the Association Agreement with the European Union. Thus began a three-month long confrontation dubbed "EuroMaidan". Violent activists stormed and seized a number of administrative buildings in downtown Kiev and set up so-called "self-defense units" that clashed with law enforcement forces.

On February 20, 2014, unidentified snipers killed 53 people on Kiev’s Institutskaya Street, the government resigned and President Yanukovich left the country while the opposition factions of the Verkhovna Rada (parliament) grabbed control during the power vacuum.

Arbitrary arrests

Amnesty International says that "both the Ukrainian authorities and separatist forces in eastern Ukraine engaged in unlawful detentions in the territory under their respective control." According to the report, "civilians they suspected of sympathizing with the other side were used as currency for prisoner exchanges." The document points out that "those unwanted by the other side remained in detention, often unacknowledged, for months with no legal remedies nor prospect of release."

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UN concerned with journalists’ harassment in Ukraine

Media harassment

Amnesty International also addressed the harassment of the media in Ukraine. The report particularly notes that "media outlets perceived as espousing pro-Russian or pro-separatist views, and those particularly critical of the authorities, faced harassment including threats of closure or physical violence." In this connection, the report mentions the Inter TV channel which "was threatened with closure repeatedly by the Interior Minister, and on 4 September around 15 masked men attempted forcefully but unsuccessfully to enter Inter’s premises, accusing it of pro-Russian news coverage."

Besides, the report adds that "popular TV presenter Savik Shuster (who holds Italian and Canadian nationality) had his work permit annulled by the Ukrainian Migration Service, in violation of the existing procedure.".

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Sergey Naryshkin observed that the military and political elites in the West are increasingly recognizing the gravity of Russia's intentions and the need for greater caution in their actions

Washington has no plans of updating nuclear posture after Russia’s test of new missile

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All restrictions that Western countries impose affect themselves in the first place, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov added

Ukrainian special services assemble unit for sabotage attacks in Kupyansk — official

According to Yevgeny Lisnyak, the special services threaten people with criminal charges of collaborationism if they refuse to join the unit

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IAEA once again fails to hold Kiev responsible for threats to Zaporozhye NPP — diplomat

Russian envoy to international organizations in Vienna Mikhail Ulyanov pointed out that from September 23 to November 12, the Russian servicemen suppressed 556 drones near the plant and Energodar

Lukashenko tells Putin situation is "starting to get tense with Wagner"

The Belarusian leader noted that they want to go to Warsaw

Zelensky admits Ukraine can't fight its way back to 1991 borders

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US vote at UNSC rejected chance of stopping 'horrific bloodshed' in Gaza, Russian MFA says

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Biden’s decision to use ATACMS against Russia may 'blow up in America’s face' — US expert

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NATO supports Ukraine not out of charity but for its own strategic interests — deputy head

Boris Ruge argued that NATO now has hundreds of thousands of troops that could be deployed to the alliance's eastern flank or elsewhere within ten days

Ex-German chancellor never expected Russia to tolerate Ukraine’s NATO membership — memoir

Angela Merkel added that another fallacy was the belief that the status "would act as a deterrent," and that Moscow "would accept these developments without taking action"

US decision on missile strikes aimed at provoking Russia, expert says

According to Andrey Sushentsov, Biden is under pressure from Washington’s allies and "the hawks" in his government who believe that the US is not providing enough support to Kiev

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According to the report, the Ukrainian military has sufficient launchers that are capable of firing them

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According to th statement, London is promoting new rounds of escalation

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Andrey Kelin also recalled that the policy of the Russian leadership enjoys the full support and confidence of the country's population

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Tit-for-tat measures will be implemented after receiving information about unfriendly actions of Western countries, Anton Siluanov noted

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West launched missiles targeting Russia’s Bryansk, Kursk Regions — Putin

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Igor Kimakovsky said that "if the West is not physically involved in this war, that is, if NATO is not involved, then Ukraine is actually losing"

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Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said that all emergencies services currently work in the high alert mode

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The mood in international markets was mainly neutral

Russian air defense deflects attacks with Western missiles — Putin

"As a result, the goals that the enemy apparently set have not been achieved," the Russian leader said

Russian troops raise flag in central Kurakhovo in Donetsk region — politician

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Enemy has no countermeasures for Russia’s Oreshnik missile — Putin

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US strategic forces ready for Biden-Trump transition — Pentagon

"The nuclear forces is ready on January 19, just like it will be ready on January, 20," Rear Admiral Thomas Buchanan said

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Japanese lawmaker praises Putin's restraint amid decision to strike deep into Russia

Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell confirmed that the US administration had lifted restrictions for US-supplied missiles to be used for strikes up to 300 kilometers inside Russia

NATO deployment to Ukraine would mark its entry into the war, Russian diplomat warns

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US journalist calls US President Joe Biden’s government 'the fascist state'

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Russian forces successfully advancing in all areas in special military op zone — Putin

The Russian president said that "all the goals we set for ourselves are being achieved"

Ukraine was warned about possible missile strike — Pentagon

Department of Defense Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh gave no answer to the question of how could Ukraine prepare for this kind of attack

US admiral says Washington should be ready for talks with Russia, China

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