This week was marked by several significant occasions.
To live and act according to conscience … 2 years have passed since the moment of the terrible and treacherous terrorist attack that took the life of the first Head of the Donetsk People’s Republic, Alexander Vladimirovich Zakharchenko.
Alexander Vladimirovich took over the reins of government in the most difficult time for Donbas. The Leader of Donbas with honor and dignity acted in the course of an active armed conflict, social and humanitarian problems that almost turned into a catastrophe. Nowadays, the inhabitants of the Republic keep and honor the memory of their first Head. On 31 August, in honor of the second anniversary of the tragic death of their beloved son of Donbas, residents of the Republic laid flowers on the grave of Alexander Vladimirovich, recalling his glorious and difficult way.
However, recalling the feats of the Head who left us, the inhabitants of the DPR do not forget about honoring their ancestors-liberators, who recaptured Donbas from the fascist invaders in 1943. Thus, from 7 to 8 September, mass events in honor of Donbas Liberation Day will be held. In Donetsk, rallies and flower-laying to the monuments of the heroes Vatutin, Gurov, Grinkevich and Tolbukhin are planned. Also, traditionally, on 8 September, a rally dedicated to the anniversary of the Donbas liberation from the Nazi invaders will be held at the Saur-Mogila memorial complex. The main surprise for the residents of Donbas will be a big concert in the center of Donetsk on Lenin Square. The world-famous singer from the Russian Federation Grigory Leps will perform there.
Another important event in the life of the Republic was the beginning of a new school year on 1 September. On the Day of Knowledge, solemn school lines and concerts were held in all educational institutions of the DPR, accompanied by the presentation of gifts to schoolchildren and pep talk of Donbas statesmen.
But, unfortunately, in addition to joy, this date also kept tears. The Republic mourns and recalls, together with the Russian Federation, the tragic events in Beslan. On the morning of 1 September 2004, during the solemn school line dedicated to the beginning of a school year, terrorists captured and detained more than 1,100 people for two days. 314 people from among the hostages died, including 186 children as a result of the terrorist attack. Human Rights Ombudsman in the DPR Daria Morozova in connection with these tragic events noted in her condolences: “This terrible crime against humanity should always remind us and warn of the horrors of terrorism. Indeed, in any armed conflict, innocent people always suffer first of all, but the worst thing is when they are children … It is simply impossible to get used to something like that and perceive it without emotion.
Unfortunately, Donbas knows firsthand what the terrible pain of the loss of little innocent citizens entails. On this day, our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Russia.”
In this context, a very important aspect that can reduce losses among the civilian population of the Republic is the full implementation of all points of the “Minsk agreements”, which remain the only way of peaceful settlement of the conflict in Donbas. However, unfortunately, not all representatives of Ukraine share this opinion. Thus, Vitold Fokin the deputy head of the Ukrainian delegation in the Contact Group was subjected to public censure and pressure because of his peaceful and, in general, consistent with the spirit of “Mirotvorets” position regarding a general amnesty for the inhabitants of the Republic. In particular, the former Prime Minister of Ukraine was added to the site “Peacemaker”, condemned and banned on the territory of the EU, for an alleged attempt to “legalize Russian terrorist groups in the territory of the occupied part of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.”
Such actions, as well as data on the cooperation of “Mirotvorets” with Ukrainian law enforcement agencies, are alarming regarding the sincerity of the Ukrainian authorities in their commitment to the implementation of all points of the “Minsk Agreements”.
Stable peace in Donbas is particularly relevant against amidst the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. The Republic is still successes in keeping the situation with the spread of coronavirus infection at an acceptable level. Thus, from the beginning of the pandemic to the present day, 2647 registered and confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection are documented in the Republic. 1256 patients are in treatment, 146 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 4005 complaints.
All received complaints can be divided into nine categories: personal rights – 1810 complaints, economic rights – 133 complaints, social rights – 550 complaints; guarantees of human rights in civil, administrative and criminal proceedings – 359 complaints; enforcement of human rights in penitentiary institutions – 95 complaints; enforcement of rights in the field of education – 13 complaints; enforcement of rights in the field of healthcare – 105 complaints; enforcement of rights of mothers, children and families – 34 complaints, issues connected with the political and military situation in DPR – 906 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 29 August and 4 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 4 September 2020, 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 4 September 2020, 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 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 the 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, 6871 people, including 1557 children have been registered as persons affected as a result of the conflict. Currently, 2079 people live in social housing objects of the Donetsk People’s Republic, including 371 underage children, 4792 people live in the housing fund, including 1186 children.
