inefficiency of the judicial and law enforcement system were cited as obstacles to an
impartial and comprehensive investigation; (e) some witnesses may be afraid to talk.
105.
Most families of Maidan victims, who have joined in an ‘initiative group’, are reported
to have received one-time social payments of 121,800 UAH (about USD 10,100). The
allocation of payments to all families should be completed by the end of July. The
initiative group is finalizing negotiations with the Ministry of Education to ensure that 52
children from the families of people killed at Maidan will be entitled to education free of
charge in all pedagogical institutions.
106.
Different groups which actively participated in the Maidan demonstrations, continued
to occupy buildings and facilities in central Kyiv that were taken over during the antigovernment protests between December 2013 and February 2014. According to the Office
of the Kyiv City Prosecutor, an estimated 950 people affiliated with the Maidan "selfdefence", the Right Sector and the Social National Assembly have established themselves
in and around 12 buildings, including the Ministry of Agriculture, the main post office,
several cultural and business centres, shops, bars, restaurants and banks. This presence has
been condemned by the Minister of Interior, the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, the
Prosecutor of Kyiv, Mayor of Kyiv who have also called for the vacation of buildings.
However, this has not led to the vacation of the buildings.
B. Investigation into human rights violations related to the violence in Odesa
107.
The violent incidents in Odesa on 2 May resulted in the deaths of 48 people, with over
200 injured. This appears to have hardened the resolve of those opposing the Government,
and deepened division between communities. There is a need for resolution to the violent
events of that day. The perpetrators must be brought to justice in a fair and non-selective
manner.
108.
More than two months after the 2 May violence in Odesa, the incidents still divide
those who live in the city. Six investigations, official and independent, have been initiated
into the killings of six people by gunshot that took place during the afternoon of 2 May,
and the deaths of 35 men and 7 women in the fire in the Trade Union building86.
Considering the number of investigations launched by law enforcement agencies and
experts, there is a high risk of miscommunication and contradictory information. The
HRMMU follows these criminal investigations and has received alarming information
from different sources on violations of human rights by law enforcement agencies and
free legal aid incompetence. On several occasions high ranking officials have disclosed
information, which has since been refuted. Overall, the communities in Odesa have no
trust in the law enforcement investigation independence. This negative atmosphere is
deteriorating further due to the fact that there has been little transparency within the
framework of the investigations, limiting access to information for the citizens of Odesa.
Both the Ministry of the Interior (MoI) Investigation Commission and the Special
Parliamentary Commission have requested the assistance of foreign experts.
109.
The Deputy Minister of the Interior has requested international assistance in
conducting the investigation process, by written appeals to four embassies (Germany,
Israel, the United Kingdom and the United States). The Independent Commission has
requested the assistance of foreign experts from the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe and the Council of Europe. The Commission has officially
requested expertise from the UN Secretary General, the High Commissioner for Human
Rights, the Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine and the UN Resident
86
See HRMMU monthly report of 15 June 2014, paragraphs. 37 – 93.
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