In the Republic this week is marked by several important occasions.
On 22 July at the meeting of the Contact Group additional measures were adopted, designed to ensure implementation of the open-ended ceasefire, which was announced on 21 July 2019. From 27 July the agreement completely prohibits any offensive including work of snipers or intelligence-diversionary groups or using any types of flying objects. Now, in case of using aggressive actions by the opponent, the other side at first should try to solve the task through negotiations via the Joint Center for Control and Coordination and only in the absence of reaction can fire back. Also, the document stated: “The above-mentioned measures cannot be fully or partly disavowed by any other orders, including secret”, that was specifically emphasized.
Successful implementation of the negotiations can be a start of the further planned realization of all points of the Minsk agreements. In this case, the Ombudsman of the DPR expresses expectations that these measures will be respected and will bring long-awaited and honored peace to citizens of Donbas.
Another important development in the work of the Contact Group was that Leonid Kuchma left the post of Head of the Ukrainian delegation in Minsk. At the present time, the first president of Ukraine Leonid Kravchuk will lead representatives from Kiev in negotiations. It is difficult to indicate the extent of changing of the Head of the delegation, but as the practice has shown that all previous shifts of representatives of the Ukrainian side had controversial consequences for full work of the Minsk platform.
At a time when the upcoming possible second wave of the pandemic COVID-19 will be able to take place, it is necessary as much as possible to make efforts for solving the most acute problems among the parts of the conflict. One of these cases is providing humanitarian assistance to citizens of the Republic, who were affected by armed actions. Support by different countries and international organizations plays an important part in saving stable vital activity of inhabitants, who live in front lines of the DPR. In this regard, the incoming 97th humanitarian convoy from the MES of the Russian Federation is provided assistance to people, living in the most difficult conditions of armed conflict. Overall 65 tones of medicine and medical supplies were delivered to the DPR. This assistance is essential in the background of common epidemiological situation in the world.
Despite the Donetsk People’s Republic manages to contain the situation with spreading of COVID-19 at an acceptable level, last time the increased incidence among inhabitants was fixed. From the beginning of pandemic to the present days overall 1751 registered and confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Republic. 818 patients are in treatment, 103 cases are fatal.
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 3,424 complaints.
All received complaints can be divided into nine categories: personal rights – 1553 complaints, economic rights – 112 complaints, social rights – 448 complaints; guarantees of human rights in civil, administrative and criminal proceedings – 289 complaints; enforcement of human rights in penitentiary institutions – 82 complaints; enforcement of rights in the field of education – 7 complaints; enforcement of rights in the field of healthcare – 94 complaints; enforcement of rights of mothers, children and families – 28 complaints, issues connected with the political and military situation in DPR – 811 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 25 and 31 July 2020 no injuries were fixed in the territory of the Republic.
Within the period between 1 January and 31 July 2020, 76 people, including 45 DPR servicemen and 31 civilians (including 6 child and 11 women) sustained injuries and traumas of varying severities as a result of armed aggression by Ukraine.
Within the period between 25 and 31 July 2020, no deaths were documented in the Donetsk People’s Republic.
Within the period between 1 January and 31 July 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 4,932 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 andcivilians
Based on the updated figures as of 31th July 2020, there are 105 people detained by the Ukrainian side. 361 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 920 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, 6,984 people, including 1,603 children have been registered as persons affected as a result of the conflict. Currently, 2,100 people live in social housing objects of the Donetsk People’s Republic, including 378 underage children, 4,884 people live in the housing fund, including 1,225 children.
