A/HRC/43/CRP.5 and extremism ‘charges’ were partially based on his publications criticizing the selfproclaimed ‘republic’. As of 15 November 2019, blogger Oleh Halaziuk remained detained in territory controlled by ‘Donetsk people’s republic’ for over two years. 78. OHCHR is concerned that civil society activists and journalists continue to be targeted across Ukraine. Failure to hold to account perpetrators responsible for such attacks, including a lack of effective criminal proceedings, emboldens perpetrators, leading to more violence. C. Freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association 79. OHCHR monitored the OdesaPride and KharkivPride events held in August and September respectively. While counter-demonstrators protested against both, the marches were generally peaceful. OHCHR welcomes the coordinated actions of local authorities and police in providing security during OdesaPride. OHCHR further commends the organisers, local authorities and police for successfully enabling the first Pride march in Kharkiv, gathering an estimated 1,200 to 2,000 participants. Nonetheless, in Kharkiv, police failed to provide sufficient security at the site before and after the event, when four individuals were attacked by members of extreme right-wing groups (see section E below). 80. In territory controlled by ‘Donetsk people’s republic’ and ‘Luhansk people’s republic’, OHCHR did not observe any voluntarily-organised assemblies, which may indicate residents’ fear of possible retaliation if they voice critical opinions. D. Freedom of religion or belief 81. OHCHR received information that some religious communities in territory controlled by ‘Donetsk people’s republic’ and ‘Luhansk people’s republic’ remain unable to conduct worship meetings due to fear of arbitrary arrests or seizure of property. Several religious organisations suspended their public activities after obligatory ‘registration’ of religious organisations was rolled out in both ‘republics’ between autumn 2018 and spring 2019. E. Discrimination, racially-motivated violence and manifestations of intolerance against minorities 82. OHCHR notes that Ukraine will participate in the 2020 voluntary national review by the High-Level Inter-Ministerial Working Group on Coordination of Implementation and Monitoring of the Sustainable Development Goals71, during which Ukraine’s efforts to combat discrimination will be monitored under SDG 16. This requires States to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels. 72 Under SDG 10, Ukraine has also committed to prevent manifestations of discrimination in society. 73 83. During the reporting period, OHCHR documented eight new attacks against representatives of the LGBTI community. 84. For the first time, a group of active and former military personnel openly participated in KyivPride held on 23 June. Two of them were subsequently attacked due to their sexual orientation, in separate incidents. On 29 August 2019, a former serviceman was hit in the head and insulted with homophobic expressions by another serviceman in central Kyiv. On 28 September 2019, another former serviceman was attacked near his house in Kyiv by five unknown men who first insulted him about his sexual orientation and 71 72 73 24 For more information, see http://sdg.org.ua/en/sdgs-and-governments. For more information, see https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/indicators/database. See Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture’s Sustainable Development Goals: Ukraine – 2017 Baseline Study, p. 76.