This week was marked by several significant occasions.
Democracy is one of the most important values that the modern civilized world carries. The inalienable right of everyone to elect and be elected as the essential instrument for expressing the will of the people, as well as the ability to independently choose their own path of development which opens up wide opportunities for realizing the potential of the state.
The Donetsk People’s Republic, despite the difficulties of development in conditions of the armed conflict, improves its democratic institutions, carrying out legislative and electoral reforms, strengthening the country’s independence every year.
That is why the International Day of Democracy, which took place on September 15, occupies a particularly important place in the hearts of the people of the Republic, who have been fighting for their freedom for 6 years. This holiday is a reason to pay attention to the state of democracy in the world. After all, democracy is not only a goal, but also a process, and only with the full participation and support of the international community, state authorities, society and individual citizens, the ideals of democracy can be realized for every person around the world.
However, unfortunately, such democratic values as reliance on strict observance of the rule of law and legal norms are not included in the arsenal of the foreign policy of the Ukrainian authorities. A key example of this thesis can be the continuing cases of violation of additional measures to strengthen and control the existing open-ended ceasefire, signed on 22 July 2020. Thus, last week, the OSCE SMM recorded cases of mining by Ukrainian servicemen of the territory near the settlement of Shyrokyne and the presence of AFU equipment in the security zone. Such actions pose a direct threat to the current ceasefire, as well as a danger to the lives of civilians in Donbas.
But, despite the provocations and in any development of events, the Republic will be able to fight back the enemy and protect its citizens. Our valiant tankers, who celebrated their birthday on 12 September, can confirm these words. The human rights Ombudsman in the DPR Daria Morozova attended a solemn event on this occasion. The Ombudsman also congratulated the growing change of our defenders, having attended the first republican Outdoor Laser Tag Tournament for the Cup of VSAAAN DPR on the same day. 29 teams from various cities of the Republic attended the competition. At the same time, over 500 participants were involved in the elimination rounds.
Also, the citizens of the Republic have demonstrated their sports successes abroad. Thus, at the tournament in Thai boxing “Cup of St. George the Victorious” held from 10 to 13 September in the Republic of Abkhazia, the athletes from the DPR won 13 medals, of which 3 are gold, 5 silver and 5 bronze.
The Ombudsman continues to attentively explore and monitor the current situation in the Republic, also call citizens for being careful and follow the essential sanitary-epidemiological norms.
Since the beginning of 2020, the Ombudsman received 4233 complaints.
All received complaints can be divided into nine categories: personal rights – 1899 complaints, economic rights – 153 complaints, social rights – 547 complaints; guarantees of human rights in civil, administrative and criminal proceedings – 390 complaints; enforcement of human rights in penitentiary institutions – 102 complaints; enforcement of rights in the field of education – 14 complaints; enforcement of rights in the field of healthcare – 110 complaints; enforcement of rights of mothers, children and families – 34 complaints, issues connected with the political and military situation in DPR – 957 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 12 and 18 September 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 18 September 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 18 September 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 18th September 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, 6935 people, including 1568 children have been registered as persons affected as a result of the conflict. Currently, 2074 people live in social housing objects of the Donetsk People’s Republic, including 371 underage children, 4861 people live in the housing fund, including 1197 children.
