UN: the authorities in Ukraine have not done enough to investigate the tragedy on may 2 in Odessa
KIEV. May 2. UNN. Within 5 years the Ukrainian authorities failed to take all necessary actions to investigate the reasons for the mass death of people during riots in the centre of Odessa may 2, 2014. This was stated by the Chairman of the UN Monitoring mission on human rights in Ukraine Fiona Fraser during the presentation of the report of the five-year monitoring events in Odessa on 2 may 2014, the correspondent of UNN.
“Within 5 years after the events of 2 may 2014 in Odessa in which 48 people were killed, government has done everything necessary in order to prosecute the guilty in 6 murders committed during riots in the centre of the city, and the deaths of 42 people in the House of trade unions,” said Fraser.
According to her, immediately after the events of 2 may 2014 Odessa regional Prosecutor’s office opened criminal proceedings concerning officials of the Odessa militia on the fact of their negligence during the riots. Criminal proceedings against officials of the state emergency service for their inaction to rescue the people trapped in the burning House of trade unions were registered only 5 months.
As pointed out by Frasier, in particular, rescuers arrived to the burning House of trade unions only in 40 minutes after the first call. The police, in turn, did not use enough force to prevent riots in the city center during events, and for 3 and a half hours after their commencement has not responded to the call and held a regrouping of personnel.
Some of the investigations concerning non-performance of official duties by officials of police and State emergency service completed and the relevant indictments are sent to court. These cases, however, are caught in a “vicious circle due to procedural hurdles at the trial stage of the proceedings.” Meanwhile, two officials identified the suspects in this criminal case, managed to escape. This is a former Deputy chief of militia in Odessa region, responsible for the maintenance of public order, and the former chief of GU gschs in Odessa region. They probably got asylum in Russia, but the requests of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine to Russia on their extradition remained without attention.
However, she added that such problems represent a serious barrier to access for the victims and their families to justice.
In its report, the Mission recommended that the Ukrainian authorities to ensure effective, thorough and impartial investigation of murders and violent deaths committed, may 2, 2014 in Odessa, and to consider the transfer role in the investigation of the Main Directorate of the National police in the Odessa region Main investigative Department of the National police. To consider the inclusion of senior investigators with relevant experience in the investigative team leading the investigation into these events, to ensure public order and the safety of all parties involved in the judicial process, violence may 2, 2014 in Odessa, so that cases could be dealt with promptly, independently and impartially. Provide priority status on judicial proceedings, provide qualification certification of judges and the recruitment of new judges without undue delay.
Recall, the morning of may 2 in Odessa near the House of trade unions maculosa quietly, delinquency was not in the place of police work.
We will add, may 2, 2014 in Odessa there were mass riots, which led to tragic consequences. According to the GPU, resulting in mass riots in Odessa that killed 48 and injured more than 250 people.
First, according to the PGO, there was a clash of the column, which carried out a March for the unity of the organized group of persons who tried to prevent the holding of the March in the streets of Greek in Odessa. The clashes began rioting in the area of the Greek area, and after a football match and on the Kulikovo field near the House of trade unions. In the heart of the Greek area, as pointed out by the GPU, were shot and wounded 18 people, of whom 6 died. During a fire in the House of trade unions, noted in GPU, killed 42 people, 10 of them were injured in the fall, trying to escape from a fire, and a 32 – died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning and combustion products. During the riots more than 250 people were injured.