The current week in the Republic was marked by several significant occasions
The idea of the “Minsk platform” as the main instrument for the settlement of the armed conflict in Donbas has been recognized by all parties of the signing of the treaty as the only and uncontested way of solving this problem. However, Ukraine, a state that suffers huge losses as a result of hostilities, has been systematically sabotaging the fulfillment of the vital conditions for the good of its people for 6 years, prescribed in the “Minsk Agreements”. This tendency and the stalemate in the position of the Ukrainian delegation are increasingly noted by the main key participants in the Contact Group. In particular, the recent refusal of the Ukrainian delegation to consider the draft roadmap for resolving the crisis is an alarming signal indicating Ukraine’s disinterest in ending the conflict. Commenting on this decision, the political representative of the Russian Federation in the Contact Group on the settlement of the conflict in Donbas, Boris Gryzlov, noted:
“In order to quickly and comprehensively resolve the internal Ukrainian conflict and determine the sequence of steps in the political, economic, humanitarian and security spheres in accordance with the Minsk agreements, it was proposed to instruct the working group on political issues to ensure the completion of the draft corresponding action plan (roadmap). It was proposed to agree on this document for the next meeting of the Contact Group on 28 October 2020. The Ukrainian side even refused to consider this plan, offering to work on the modernization of the Minsk agreements, which is tantamount to refusing to implement them.”
It confirms the lack of desire on the Ukrainian side to fulfill its obligations and the aggravated situation on the demarcation line. So, on 15 October, despite the previously provided security guarantees, the AFU fired mortars at the repair brigade, which also included DPR observers in the JCCC. The shelling took place during the repair work on the restoration of railway tracks on the stage “station “Donetsk” – station “Donetsk-Severny” – station “Yasinovataya”. The similar shelling was recorded on 12 October, when workers of the repair brigade came under fire.
Such provocative actions, which pose a threat to relative peace in the region, are especially dangerous in the background of a difficult epidemiological situation connected with the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Alarming statistics and a sharp surge in the level of morbidity in the world require responsibility and focus on the prevention of morbidity, both in Ukraine and in the DPR. From the beginning of the pandemic to the present day, 4905 registered and confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection have been recorded in the Republic. 2284 patients are in treatment, 324 cases – fatal.
The state directs maximum efforts to combat the pandemic. Thus, 15 light industry enterprises were re-profiled to manufacture personal protective equipment to meet the needs of the population. Thanks to this decision, one of the largest enterprises of the pharmaceutical industry in the DPR began to produce disposable medical clothing, which is used in practice by employees of the ambulance station, as well as healthcare institutions of the Republic. These products include surgical gowns, capes for visitors and protective overalls.
Also, in addition to a pandemic, domestic political confrontations, which can pose a threat to the civilian population, represent a great danger and a destabilizing role in world processes. Thus, the protests that began during the parliamentary elections in Kyrgyzstan remain an alarming event. At the moment, the situation continues to be difficult, because the country is on the brink of a civil war. The daily clashes between protesters and police have already led to casualties on both sides, as well as massive detentions. In this regard, the Human Rights Ombudsman calls on the citizens of the DPR who are currently in the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic to be careful, be vigilant and avoid crowds of protesters.
However, despite the tense situation in the world, the inhabitants of the Republic continue to demonstrate their success in the sports sphere. Thus, DPR athletes took part in the IRONSTAR SOCHI 2020 triathlon competition, which took place between 9 and 11 October in Sochi.
More than 50 athletes from different regions of the Russian Federation, as well as Armenia and the Republic of Belarus, took part in the competition. As a result of the competition, representatives of the Republic won one gold and one silver medal.
The Ombudsman continues to attentively explore and monitor the humanitarian situation in the Republic, also call citizens for being careful and follow the essential sanitary-epidemiological norms, in view of the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
Since the beginning of 2020, the Ombudsman received 4500 complaints.
All received complaints can be divided into nine categories: personal rights – 1978 complaints, economic rights – 171 complaints, social rights – 648 complaints; guarantees of human rights in civil, administrative and criminal proceedings – 413 complaints; enforcement of human rights in penitentiary institutions – 115 complaints; enforcement of rights in the field of education – 15 complaints; enforcement of rights in the field of healthcare – 121 complaints; enforcement of rights of mothers, children and families – 41 complaints, issues connected with the political and military situation in DPR – 998 complaints.
- Death toll, injuries to civilians and soldiers as a result of hostilities in the territory of the Donetsk People`s Republic
The DPR Ombudsman’s Office documents cases of violations of Donbas citizens’ rights by the Ukrainian side, including the right to life, personal integrity and freedom of movement.
Within the period between 10 and 16 October 2020, in the territory of the Republic, no injured and dead people among the civilian population were fixed.
Within the period between 1 January and 16 October 2020, in the territory of the Donetsk People’s Republic, 31 civilians (including 6 children and 11 women) sustained injuries and traumas of varying severities as a result of armed aggression by Ukraine.
Within the period between 1 January and 16 October 2020, in the territory of the DPR, 5 civilians died as a result of armed aggression by Ukraine.
Officially confirmed information on individuals who have been wounded since the beginning of the conflict continues to be reported to the Ombudsman’s Office in DPR.
- Register of the prisoners of war, missing soldiers and civilians
Based on the updated figures as of 16th October 2020, there are about 104 people detained by the Ukrainian side, 362 people are considered missing.
- Register of displaced persons and affected citizens
At the time of armed conflict, the civilian population living in the zone of fighting and near the contact line is often affected. With the view to protect the human right to life and security of the person, and to provide assistance to victims as a result of armed aggression by Ukraine, social housing objects (dormitories, preventative clinics, health care centers).
With the coming into force of the Order of the Head of the Donetsk People’s Republic No. 137 of 24.04.2018, Territorial commissions in cities and districts are now responsible for accommodating affected civilians. They work under supervision of the Republican Commission on Resettlement of Affected Persons chaired by the DPR Human Rights Ombudsman.
There are currently 924 accommodation places in the Donetsk People’s Republic available for citizens of this category. 64 social housing objects have been opened in the territory of DPR. 55 of them operate, 9 of them are held in reserve. Since the beginning of the conflict, 6943 people, including 1566 children have been registered as persons affected as a result of the conflict. Currently, 2058 people live in social housing objects of the Donetsk People’s Republic, including 369 underage children, 4885 people live in the housing fund, including 1197 children.
