C. Investigations related to events in the east 111. Information provided to the HRMMU by the Office of the General Prosecutor showed that law enforcement agencies had registered 247 criminal proceedings concerning cases of “separatism”. 17 of these are under investigation by the Regional Prosecutors of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Dnepropetrovsk: eight concern violent acts to overthrow or change the constitutional order as stipulated or to seize state power (article 109 of the Criminal Code), or the infringement of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and inviolability (article 110 of the Criminal Code), and one criminal proceeding for high treason (article 111 of the Criminal Code). The remaining eight criminal proceedings concern excessive use of powers (article 365 of the Criminal Code) by police officers in connection with allegedly supporting an act of “separatism” (linked to either article 109 or 110 of the Criminal Code). 112. The HRMMU is following up on a number of cases where individuals were detained under these criminal proceedings related to events in the east. On 30 April, the HRMMU received information from the National Preventive Mechanism regarding ten detained persons. It was stated that they are held in the pre-trial detention centre of the Security Service of Ukraine based on respective court decisions, and, reportedly, are in satisfactory health condition and receive legal aid. 113. In addition, the HRMMU verified allegations made by a Russian senator claiming that Pavel Gubarev, the self-proclaimed governor of Donetsk, who was detained in Donetsk by police on 6 March and transferred to Kyiv, had been tortured and was in a critical condition. The HRMMU spoke with the lawyer of Pavel Gubarev and the head of the National Prevention Mechanism; both denied the torture claim. On 30 April, the lawyers of Mr. Gubarev announced that Shevchenkivskiy District Court in Kyiv had prolonged the detention period of Mr. Gubarev until 28 June. D. Economic and social rights 114. Public services are reported to be operating in most towns in the east, despite the seizure of public and administrative buildings. The impact on the access to, and the quality of, services provided by public institutions for residents in a non-discriminatory way continues to be observed, including in those towns either already controlled by armed groups, or with administrative buildings occupied by armed and unarmed opponents of the Government. The presence of armed groups and their particular control of towns such as Kramatorsk and Slovyansk is resulting in the disruption of many aspects of daily life. There are reports that many shops are closed; public services are fully operational, including public transport, schools and healthcare and medical facilities. Several major banks terminated operations in various parts of eastern Ukraine due to numerous instances of attacks on their offices. 115. The HRMMU heard of concerns regarding the on-going crisis from representatives of Women’s NGO in both Kyiv and Donetsk. Their sense is that there is very little participation 55 | P a g e