The current week in the Republic was marked by several significant occasions
Defense of the Motherland is one of the noblest and most heroic deeds of which a citizen is capable of. Our defenders deserve the highest praise and gratitude from their people, because they risk their own lives and health on the front lines every day. In this vein, the appropriation of the status of a participant in hostilities is a complex step necessary for the full reward of the feat of people who took up arms in order to protect the population from the aggressor one day. On 21 October 2020, the Head of the DPR approved the procedure for issuing documents confirming the status of a participant in hostilities and a family member of the deceased in the defense of the DPR. The procedure stipulates that the issuance of documents attesting the status of a participant in hostilities or a family member of a deceased defender is carried out by authorized bodies, i.e. security institutions where a soldier serves (or has served). Commissions are created in authorized bodies that consider applications to organize the issuance of documents. The procedure also establishes a list of documents that are attached to the application to confirm the status of a participant in hostilities. In addition, in the absence of documents confirming participation in hostilities can be confirmed by the testimony of two witnesses who have the status of a participant in hostilities.
Such steps by the state are extremely important and relevant, because, despite the previously announced ceasefire, the Armed Forces of Ukraine continue to regularly carry out provocations and shelling. Thus, over the past week, specialists from the JCCC recorded shelling from the AFU, in the area of the settlements of Kominternovo, Dolomitnoe, Naberezhnoye and Yakovlevka.
Even the local council elections held on 25 October in Ukraine did not stop the intensity of the shelling. However, the legitimacy of the results of these elections can be questioned, taking into account the absolutely illegal deprivation of the right to vote for a significant part of the population of eastern Ukraine. Because the decision of the Central Election Commission of Ukraine of 8 August to cancel local elections in 18 cities and towns of Donetsk and Luhansk regions actually nullifies the legality of the elections, directly violating the constitutional rights of Ukrainians to elect and be elected.
Another important event in the life of the Republic was the arrival of the 99th humanitarian convoy with medical assistance in the form of medicines and equipment from the Russian Federation on 27 October. In particular, 30 oxygen concentrators were handed over to health care institutions providing assistance to seriously ill patients. In addition, medical products for hemodialysis procedures, antibacterial drugs for the treatment of tuberculosis, high-tech surgical interventions in ophthalmology, cardiac surgery, enzyme preparations were received; endoprosthesis for traumatology and orthopedics, as well as suture material. Moreover, the humanitarian assistance included medical equipment: X-ray devices for hospitals in Dokuchaievsk, Telmanovsky district, Yasinovataya; mobile x-ray surgical devices; heart-lung machine, as well as a set of devices and instruments for endoscopic operations and research.
This is invaluable help, especially in a context of increased incidence of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic that recorded all over the world. The Republic continues to take all necessary steps to prevent the spread of infection on its territory. Thus, from the beginning of the pandemic to the present day, 6618 registered and confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection have been recorded in the Republic. 2664 patients are in treatment, 531 cases are fatal.
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 4643 complaints.
All received complaints can be divided into nine categories: personal rights – 2018 complaints, economic rights – 179 complaints, social rights – 675 complaints; guarantees of human rights in civil, administrative and criminal proceedings – 438 complaints; enforcement of human rights in penitentiary institutions – 126 complaints; enforcement of rights in the field of education – 15 complaints; enforcement of rights in the field of healthcare – 132 complaints; enforcement of rights of mothers, children and families – 43 complaints, issues connected with the political and military situation in DPR – 1017 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 24 and 30 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 30 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 30 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 30th 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 927 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, 6909 people, including 1561 children have been registered as persons affected as a result of the conflict. Currently, 2045 people live in social housing objects of the Donetsk People’s Republic, including 366 underage children, 4864 people live in the housing fund, including 1195 children.
