The whereabouts of three pro-Ukrainian activists who disappeared in May162 are still unknown (Hennadiy Afanasiev, Alex Cirno, and Alexander Kolchenko). Two of them are not registered by the police as missing, hence the absence of any investigation to find them. The third one was registered by the police but no investigation has been undertaken. On 15 March, a proUkrainian activist disappeared in Sevastopol; reportedly he was abducted by the pro-Russian self-defence militia. The police in Sevastopol refused to register that he was missing. On 3 July, a student from Nigeria went missing and his disappearance was later registered with the police. His whereabouts remain unknown. In spite of numerous allegations of human rights violations committed before and after the March “referendum” by different groups, including the so-called Crimean self-defence forces, no serious attempt has been made to investigate any of these allegations and punish the perpetrators. On 11 June, the self-proclaimed parliament of Crimea passed a law which resulted in the integration of self-defence groups into a “people’s militia”, with powers to assist the police in keeping law and order. During the reporting period a bill163 was registered in the self-proclaimed parliament of Crimea that would consider all actions committed by the self-defence forces between 25 February and 11 April 2014, including those resulting in harm or damage, as “acts of extreme necessity”. The perpetrators of violations would therefore be immune from prosecution. Meanwhile, complaints continued being made against the Crimean self-defence forces. Ukrainian companies are increasingly finding it difficult to continue their activities in the peninsula. The Ukrainian gas company Sevastopolgas was reportedly asked to leave its equipment or negotiate its sale. The energy company Sevastopolenergo and the Ukrainian telecom carrier Ukrtelecom have also been forced to leave Crimea since the authorities of Sevastopol want to replace the companies with new ones. There are discussions about adopting a law, which would allow the authorities of Crimea to “reprivatize” Crimean enterprises whose owners are in Ukraine. The alteration of the status of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, at variance with UN General Assembly resolution 68/262, and the resulting introduction of an administrative line, has restricted the freedom of movement between Crimea and mainland Ukraine. Russian customs officers deny Crimean residents the right to leave the peninsula if they do not have Russian passports and have either lost their Ukrainian passports or have invalid Ukrainian travel documents. A third Crimean Tatar leader has been subjected to a fiveyear ban from entering Crimea.164 On the other hand, Ukrainian border guards deny entry into mainland Ukraine to people holding Russian passports that do not contain an entry registration done at one of the official border crossing points between Ukraine and Russia. Several institutions or bodies dealing with Crimea have been created by the Government of Ukraine. On 16 May, a department for Crimea and social adaption was created in the Presidential Administration. On 1 July, a Department on issues related to the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol was established within the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. On 17 July, a Government Service on issues related to the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the city of Sevastopol and IDPs was set up to implement decisions of the Department on Crimea. The position of representative of the President of Ukraine for Crimea was established on 26 May, based in Kherson. These institutions have been established to deal with issues related to economic, social and property rights and the needs of those Ukrainians who have left Crimea, as well as those who still live in the peninsular. On 21 July, a bill was registered in the Parliament of Ukraine calling for the creation of a Ministry on Crimean issues 162 See 15 May monthly report. “On the prohibition of the pursuit of persons for actions committed with the purpose to maintain public order and protect the interests of the Crimean Republic” 164 In May, two other Crimean Tatar leaders had 5-year entry bans imposed on them by Crimean authorities. 163 225 | P a g e