Ukrainian human rights commissioner, head of UN mission discuss political prisoners, Crimea and Donbas

Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Liudmyla Denisova discussed with Head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine Matilda Bogner the situation in Donbas, reprisals against Crimean Tatars and trials of political prisoners held by the Kremlin.

 “I had the pleasure to get acquainted with newly appointed Head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine Matilda Bogner. I informed Ms Bogner about my work and the work of the Office of Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights. We discussed in details the situation in eastern Ukraine and conflict-related human rights violations, namely complicated crossing of the contact line, difficulties with payment of social benefits and pensions," Denisova posted on Facebook.

She stressed that the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission has a representative office in Donetsk and Luhansk, as well as the ability to remotely monitor the situation in Crimea, so Denisova asked Bogner to exchange information.

“I placed particular emphasis on reprisals against Crimean Tatars and Ukrainian citizens, the attack on the church of Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Crimea, the cases of Edem Bekirov, Volodymyr Balukh, Pavlo Hryb,” Denisova noted.

She also asked the head of the UN mission to assist in the transfer of prisoners from certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions to the government-controlled territory of Ukraine.

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