Coordinator in Ukraine. It is felt that such independent international experts would be able to receive more adequate answers since witnesses would have more confidence in foreigners than in local officials. The HRMMU recommends the following: (a) in the interest of the investigation, law enforcement officials should refrain from spreading damaging rumours and disclosing information; (b) all Commissions, within their mandates, should meet on a regular basis; (c) the regional and local authorities, should work on strategies to deescalate tensions within the communities and to initiate dialogue focusing on reconciliation; (d) law enforcement agencies should ensure the protection, fulfilment and promotion of human rights within their criminal investigations; (e) the Governmental Free legal aid system should ensure the competence of lawyers providing free legal defence. Criminal investigation by the Ministry of the Interior Investigation Unit 110. The Main Investigation Department of the MoI in Kyiv (under the control of the Deputy Minister of the Interior) is investigating the 2 May violence. According to the MoI, at the expiration of the 60 days legally granted for investigation, the investigative team requested an additional five (5) months. More time is needed to conduct the following investigative proceedings: to identify all people involved in the mass riots and identify witnesses; identify organisers of the Odesa “Euromaidan”, Right Sector, local Self-Defence, Odesa “Narodnaya Druzhyna” and other participants; identify and interrogate policemen involved with securing public order on 2nd and 4th May; identify and interrogate State Emergency Service employees who received emergency fire calls and who dispatched fire brigades to the various locations on 2 May; analyse the phonecall registry between city centre and Kulikovo Pole; conduct a full-scale analysis of the video files; question victims claiming material damage; question all Trade Union building employees present at work on 2 May. 111. The HRMMU conducted a number of meetings with defence lawyers in the 2 May violence cases, who notified that the Investigation Commission requested a prolongation of measure of restraint for all detainees (under custody or house arrest) for an additional 60 days. The HRMMU received information that the investigation process, including the interrogation of detainees, has been very limited so far. Some detainees since their apprehension on 2 May have been questioned only twice. 112. The Primorsky District Court of Odesa has favourably satisfied all petitions presented by the MoI. 113. The HRMMU has not had any obstacle in cooperating with the Commission of MoI. As of 12 July, the Investigation Commission provided the HRMMU with the following information: 12 men remain in Pre-trial detention centres under the Penitentiary Services; 41 men are placed under house arrest; 53 persons were interrogated as suspects, 83 persons were interrogated as victims; 430 persons were interrogated as witnesses; 242 forensic examinations were appointed, of which 62 are still on-going; out of 42 men and 6 women deceased, one man is still not identified; one injured man remains in hospital; five detainees (all men) are reported to be foreign citizens. 114. None of the preliminary conclusions were made public by the Investigation Commission. However, although the investigation is still ongoing, several controversial statements were made by the MoI. In May, when the forensic examinations had just started, the deputy Minister of Interior stated that people in the Trade Union building died from breathing chloroform, which has never been confirmed. Furthermore, the Head of the Regional Office for Forensic, at a public meeting with the Regional Council Investigation Commission stated that none of the deceased at Kulikovo Pole were shot or 153 | P a g e