Seven years ago, on March 18, a truly historic event took place. After the coup d’état and the subsequent difficult conditions of the socio-political crisis in Ukraine, the residents of the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol took a principled and responsible step, namely, a nationwide referendum was held. As a result, a decision was made by an overwhelming majority of votes to reunite Crimea with Russia as a constituent entity of the Russian Federation. This made it possible to restore historical justice and realize the wishes of the inhabitants of the peninsula.
It was the resilience and intransigence shown in the implementation of the free expression of the will of citizens in Crimea that inspired millions of people to actively resist the nationalist regime that came to power in Ukraine as a result of the coup d’état in February 2014. The Republics were among them, because it was the events in Crimea that actually became the starting point at the beginning of the Russian Spring. As time has shown, this was not done in vain, the best proof of which was the factors of countless atrocities and crimes of Ukraine against the inhabitants of Donbass.
Unfortunately, the past week was no exception. Thus, the JCCC observers recorded more than 30 facts of violation of the regime of an open-ended ceasefire by the AFU. In particular, shelling from weapons prohibited by the agreements was used in the territories of such settlements as: Gorlovka, Petrovskoe and Leninskoe. It was the miracle that there were no civilian casualties.
Violations of the agreement on the open-ended ceasefire, as well as additional measures to it, can lead to irreparable consequences. The importance of adhering to these agreements and their benefits can be directly seen in the Report of the Ombudsman for 2020. Thus, on March 18, during the presentation of the Report, the Ombudsman of the Republic Daria Morozova noted that in 2020 the lowest mortality rate as a result of hostilities was recorded since its beginning. Losses decreased 50 times compared to 2014. This was a direct consequence of the comprehensive work in the context of the implementation of the agreements on the open-ended ceasefire.
More information about the activities of the Ombudsman and Ombudsman’s Office can be found on the official website of the Ombudsman.
However, despite all the difficulties, the Republic continues to live and develop. Thus, from March 12 to March 14, the athletes of the Republic showed high results at the championship of the Rostov region in rock climbing and bouldering, which was held in Rostov-on-Don. The competition brought together over a hundred participants from the Russian Federation, DPR and LPR. At the same time, the DPR national team took part in the Russian Shotokan Cup and Championship (JKA WF karate), which were held from March 12 to March 14 in the city of Vidnoye, Moscow region. The competition brought together more than 1000 athletes from 39 constituent entities of Russia, including 21 athletes from the Donetsk People’s Republic. As a result of the competition, DPR karate fighters won 11 medals, of which one is gold, seven are silver and three are bronze.
However, in addition to sporting achievements, the Republic pleases its residents with cultural events. Thus, on March 18, the 12th festival of jazz music “Jazz Forum” opens at the Donetsk Philharmonic with the support of the Ministry. The festival will open with a new jazz program by organist Alexander Khmarny and instrumentalists of the Philharmonic “Organ in Jazz” and will end on March 21 at 15:00 in the premises of the Donetsk Republican Museum.
The Human Rights Ombudsman in the DPR calls on citizens to be vigilant and continue to comply with the necessary sanitary standards until the official relaxation of quarantine measures by the state. Take care of yourself and your loved ones!
Since the beginning of 2021, the Ombudsman received 704 complaints.
All received complaints can be divided into nine categories: personal rights – 214 complaints, economic rights – 50 complaints, social rights – 149 complaints; guarantees of human rights in civil, administrative and criminal proceedings – 80 complaints; enforcement of human rights in penitentiary institutions – 23 complaints; enforcement of rights in the field of education – 5 complaints; enforcement of rights in the field of healthcare – 26 complaints; enforcement of rights of mothers, children and families – 5 complaints, issues connected with the political and military situation in DPR – 152 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 13 and 19 March 2021, according to the official sources, no one was injured.
Within the period between 1 January and 19 March 2021, in the territory of the Donetsk People’s Republic, 9 people sustained injuries and traumas of varying severities as a result of armed aggression by Ukraine: 6 servicemen of the Republic and 3 civilians.
Within the period between 13 and 19 March 2021, in the territory of the Donetsk People’s Republic, as a result of the shelling by the AFU, 2 servicemen of the Republic died.
Within the period between 1 January and 19 March 2021, in the territory of the DPR, 17 servicemen of the Republic died as a result of armed aggression by Ukraine.
It should be noted that since the armed conflict began in the Donetsk People’s Republic, 4979 people, including 90 children died.
Officially confirmed information on individuals who have been wounded since the beginning of the conflict continues to be reported to the DPR Ombudsman’s Office.
- Register of the prisoners of war, missing soldiersand civilians
As of March 19, 2021, the Ukrainian side detains about 89 people.
As of March 19, 2021, 365 people are on the list of missing persons.
- 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 centres).
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 the supervision of the Republican Commission on Resettlement of Affected Persons chaired by the DPR Human Rights Ombudsman.
There are currently 852 accommodation places in the Donetsk People’s Republic available for citizens of this category. 61 social housing objects have been opened in the territory of DPR. 53 of them operate, 8 of them are held in reserve. Since the beginning of the conflict, 6732 people, including 1487 children have been registered as persons affected as a result of the conflict. Currently, 1950 people live in social housing objects of the Donetsk People’s Republic, including 341 underage children, 4782 people live in the housing fund, including 1146 children.
