80. The HRMMU has received credible reports that Crimean Tatars are experiencing significant pressure, examples of which are provided in section VI on “Particular Human Rights Challenges in Crimea”. 81. The importance of using one’s mother tongue freely in private and public without discrimination is of high importance. Generally communities expressed satisfaction that minority schools or specialized classes have been established and function freely according to national law. They frequently noted that the use of minority languages is a significant and valued feature of Ukrainian society and is in no way incompatible with the teaching and use of Ukrainian as the state language. However, the Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues referred to the concerns voiced by ethnic Russians that there were relatively few Russian schools in relation to their numbers. On 11 April, while in eastern Ukraine, acting Prime Minister Yatseniuk emphasised that the law “On the Basics of State Language Policy” so called “Kolisnechenko-Kivalov law”, remained in force. However, this remains a contentious issue in eastern Ukraine, with many not grasping that the use of languages is to be considered by region. 82. There have been individual cases of hostility and anti-minority acts reported to the HRMMU. These remain isolated incidents, but which can contribute to an atmosphere of mistrust and fear, which in turn can generate discrimination and violence, and potentially hate crimes. 83. The HRMMU has observed a number of cases motivated by hatred against minorities: a) In Odesa on 7 April, an incident when graffiti with swastikas was painted on Jewish tombs, the Holocaust memorial and on houses next to the Synagogue was monitored by the HRMMU. The signature of the Right Sector allegedly appeared next to the graffiti. On 8 April, the leaders of Right Sector from Kyiv and of the Ukrainian National Assembly personally met with the Chief Rabbi, Avraam Volf, to assure him that these organisations had not participated in these acts. Together with the municipal service and pro-unity activists, they washed off the graffiti from the tombs. The Jewish community believes these acts were a provocation and not part of a broader threat. On 8 April, the police opened a criminal investigation into the case based on article 296 of the Criminal Code (Hooliganism).39 b) On 15 April, in Donetsk, anti-Semitic leaflets40 with the stamp of the “Donetsk People’s Republic” were circulated near the local synagogue. The self-proclaimed leaders of the “Donetsk People’s Republic” denied their involvement in the incident; its self-proclaimed Governor, Serhiy Pushylin, called it a provocation. On 18 April, the Security Service of Ukraine announced that the materials of this case were added to the on-going criminal 39 Criminal Code also foresees accountability for such criminal offences as: violation of graves (article 297), illegal desecration of religious sanctities (article 179), and violation of citizens’ equality based on their race, nationality or religious preferences (article 161). 40 The text of the leaflet obliged all Jews of Donetsk region to pass registration by 3 May, which costs 30 USD. If not passed, they will be deprived of citizenship and deported from the Donetsk People’s Republic with the confiscation of their property. 48 | P a g e