This week was marked by several significant occasions.
Traditionally, in the last week of summer the large-scale holiday events, dedicated to the 151-years of the capital of the Republic take place for inhabitants and visitors of DPR. Thus, on 28 August in the recreation park of Kiev district, the concert of classical music in the open air “to Donetsk – the music of the soul” will take place. There will be symphonic music performed by the orchestra of Sergei Prokofiev under the direction of the conductor Vladimir Zavodilenko and the chief conductor, honored artist of Russia Anatoly Oselkov. Soloists of the Donetsk philharmonic will sing at the concert. Also, at first in Donetsk in honor of the Day of the city, the great planner will take place. 30 the best painters of the Donetsk People’s Republic will meet in the open space to draw landscapes of the hero-city to 75-years of the great victory. The celebration will finish on 30 August with the grand concert and firework in the recreation park named after A.S. Sherbakov.
Donbas not only celebrates the main holiday but also honors their heroes. On 25 August the opening ceremony of the bust of Mikhail “Givi” Tolstykh, Hero of the Republic, Chevalier of two George Crosses, awarded with a medal “For the defence of Sloviansk”. Mikhail Tolstykh tragically died as a result of the terroristic act on 8 February 2017 in the building of headquarters of subdivision “Somali” in Makeyevka. However, even after the death, his feats encourage for dedication and bravery of citizens of the Republic. The quality, that the youth of Donbas continue to develop, honoring the memories of their heroes.
The Republican educational forum off youth “SEA” was created precisely in order to patriotic education and adopting the traditional values to the youth of DPR. This large-scale event, organized by the public organization “Young Republic” with the support of the Head of DPR takes place every year on the base of the student recreation camp “Monolith”. Daria Morozova, Human rights Ombudsman in the Donetsk People’s Republic participated in the forum this year. During the discussion the Ombudsman noted the importance of the volunteerism, and also that the real volunteer is that, who is able to live another person’s life, to understand and support him/her.
Volunteer support plays an important role in the life of the Republic that is for six years lives in the conditions of armed conflict. Foreign support also makes a significant contribution to the development and restoration of the hardest-hit regions as a result of the war. In this context, another 98th humanitarian convoy by MES of Russia that arrived on 27 August provided invaluable assistance for inhabitants of Donbas. The humanitarian convoy was composed of the humanitarian assistance of medical supplies (medicine and medical property). The common weight of the cargo was more than 60 tons, including 6 tons 600 kilograms of dedicated humanitarian aid for institutions of Ministry of Health of the Donetsk People’s Republic.
Such support in the background of the ongoing pandemic of the coronavirus COVID-19 is particularly relevant. The Donetsk People’s Republic succeeds in containing the proliferation of the coronavirus infection at an acceptable level. Thus, from the beginning of the pandemic to this date in the Republic, 2466 registered and confirmed cases of COVID-19. 1122 patients are in treatment, 136 cases are fatal.
The current agreement of ceasefire from 27 July allows keeping the proliferation of the coronavirus infection at a low level. From the beginning of the additional measures of the agreement in the territory of Donbas cases with shelling and violations are decreased. However, separate cases of non-compliance of agreements are still documented by representatives of JCCC. Thus, for last week holding the prohibited engineer works were fixed at positions of AFU in the settlements of Lebedynske, Mayorsk and Shumi.
However, Donbas is always ready for any challenges, including armed ones. The Republic doesn’t stop prepare and improve skills of servicemen, one of the elements of training of which is tank competitions.
On 28 August, the final of competitions of the tank crews of LPR and DPR has begun, on one of the ranges near Torez, that is dedicated to the 75-years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War and the forthcoming the Day of Donbas Liberation. In the final four crews participated, two crews from each state. Contestants have to overcome the obstacle course, moat, track addition and high ledge, fast lane and to pass the minefields barricades. Also, commands have to take the fire Hill at each circle. All tasks are performed for time. Penalty points are assessed for a failed pass. Competitions of tank crews take place in the framework of contests on military specialties.
One more proof of the necessity to “keep your powder dry” is actions by the Ukrainian special services that are aimed at the destabilization of the situation inside the Republic. Thus, officers of SSU tried again to recruit servicemen of the DPR People’s Militsiya. Ukrainian special services, in particular, actively use blackmail, bribery and psychological pressure against servicemen’s relatives in order to lure defenders of the Republic to the territory of Ukraine to cooperate for further diversionary actions and human intelligence against DPR and LPR.
Human rights Ombudsman in the Donetsk People’s Republic recalls that in the case of attempt to recruit by foreign special services, it is necessary to inform about it immediately the DPR public security authorities in order to avoid subsequent problems with the law.
The Ombudsman continues attentively explore and monitor 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 3917 complaints.
All received complaints can be divided into nine categories: personal rights – 1770 complaints, economic rights – 130 complaints, social rights – 526 complaints; guarantees of human rights in civil, administrative and criminal proceedings – 358 complaints; enforcement of human rights in penitentiary institutions – 91 complaints; enforcement of rights in the field of education – 10 complaints; enforcement of rights in the field of healthcare – 102 complaints; enforcement of rights of mothers, children and families – 34 complaints, issues connected with the political and military situation in DPR – 896 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 22 and 28 August 2020 no injuries were fixed in the territory of the Republic.
Within the period between 1 January and 28 August 2020, 76 people, including 45 DPR servicemen and 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 22 and 28 August 2020, no deaths were documented in the Donetsk People’s Republic.
Within the period between 1 January and 28 August 2020, 27 DPR servicemen and 5 civilians died as a result of armed aggression by Ukraine.
To be specific, since the beginning of the armed conflict 4932 people died, including 81 children.
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 28th August 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 921 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, 6928 people, including 1579 children have been registered as persons affected as a result of the conflict. Currently, 2097 people live in social housing objects of the Donetsk People’s Republic, including 374 underage children, 4831 people live in the housing fund, including 1205 children.
