of 12 detainees. The HRMMU reminds the authorities of the importance of respecting
international standards concerning the presumption of innocence and the prohibition of
arbitrary interference with one’s privacy or attacks upon his/her honour and reputation.
71.
Also on 3 May, the SBU published the names and passports of three citizens from the
Russian Federation allegedly involved in the 2 May violence.
Legality of arrest
72.
On 15 May, the SBU conducted an illegal search of an apartment from 8.00 p.m. to 3.00
a.m., without a search warrant and without preparing a report/protocol on the search.
During the search, they broke the door, forced the family, including a girl to lie down on
the floor. A woman (wife/mother) was subsequently arrested and taken to the SBU
Office. The next day she was transferred to the Odesa Police Station. On 17 May, the
Primorsky District Court placed her in custody under Articles 294 (Mass riots) and 110
(Trespass against territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine) of the Criminal Code.
She is currently detained in Odesa pre-trial detention centre.
Accountability: Update on investigations into the Odesa incidents
73.
Six official investigations have been initiated to look into the incidents of 2 May in
Odesa and are ongoing: 1) a criminal investigation by the MoI; 2) an investigation of
the General Prosecution Investigation Unit into police conduct; 3) a criminal
investigation by the SBU into alleged state level crimes (including actions aimed at
forceful change or overthrow of the constitutional order); 4) an investigation by the
Ombudsperson; 5) an investigation by the Parliamentary Commission; and 6) an
investigation by a commission comprising civil society representatives under the
auspices of the Governor. During his visit in May, ASG Šimonović met with
interlocutors involved in these various investigations.
74.
These parallel investigations by different bodies present a high risk of
miscommunication between the various law enforcement agencies’ commissions, which
may impact the integrity of the criminal investigations. Furthermore, there appear to be
widespread concerns among citizens regarding the ability of local law enforcement
agencies to conduct independent and thorough investigations due to the politicisation of
the 2 May events. The day after the violence, the former acting President dismissed
several local high-ranking officials on the grounds of Article 365 (Excess of authority or
official powers) and Article 367 (Neglect of official duty) of the Criminal Code). An
interim government and new officials were appointed at the local level: the Governor of
Odesa, the Head of the Regional MoI, the Head of the Odesa City Police, and the Head
of the Regional Prosecution Office.
Governmental Commission on the issues of numerous deaths of people during
“Pro-Ukrainian” protests and fire in the Trade Union Building in Odesa City
75.
During the late evening of 2 May, Vice-Prime Minister Vitalii Yarema was appointed
Head of the Governmental Commission on the issues of numerous deaths of people
during “Pro-Ukrainian” protests and the fire in the Trade Union Building in Odesa City,
which is responsible for overseeing the investigation carried out by the law enforcement
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