The United Nations warned Friday of a deteriorating human rights situation in eastern Ukraine, including persistent problems in Crimea, that part of Ukraine that was annexed by Russia at the end of March.
The 36-page report produced by the UN Human Rights monitoring mission, based in five Ukrainian cities, covered the period from April 2 to May 6 of this this year.
It documented a number of problems in Crimea related to the Crimean Tatars and other minorities. These included the issue of citizenship, the free of movement of Tatar leaders and descriptions of physical harassment.
The report talked about fears of religious persecution of those who are practicing Muslims. And according to the UN more than 7,200 Crimean people - mostly Tartars – have become displaced.
- Eastern Ukraine
In a separate news release, the security situation in eastern Ukraine was defined as increasingly dangerous with the potential of peaceful demonstrations turning into violent protests with the involvement of armed groups.
The city of Slovyansk, in the Donetsk region, was described as a particular place of unrest.
The report documents attacks on those who support Ukraine’s unity and noted the absence of local police protection.
In eastern Ukraine journalists, bloggers and other media professionals are being abducted and unlawfully detained by armed groups, according to the report.
Many radio and TV stations in eastern Ukraine and Crimea have ceased to broadcast altogether, the UN said.
The report also covered protests in the central square of the Ukrainian capital Kiev, known as the Maidan protests, and noted 83 people are still missing after disappearing during demonstrations.
By Erol Avdovic
englishnews@aa.com.tr
