Amnesty Finds Evidence Of Summary Killings By Pro-Russian, Ukrainian Forces
Amnesty International says an investigation it conducted into allegations of execution-style and other deliberate killings by pro-Russian separatists and pro-Kyiv forces in eastern Ukraine has found evidence of isolated incidents attributable to both sides, but not on the scale reported by Russian media and authorities.
The report, titled ‘Summary killings during the conflict in eastern Ukraine’, was published on Monday. It presents the findings of research conducted in eastern Ukraine’s Donbass in late August and late September, and interviews with victims of human rights abuses and their families, eyewitnesses, local officials in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, medical personnel and combatants on both sides.
“There is no doubt that summary killings and atrocities are being committed by both pro-Russian separatists and pro-Kyiv forces in Eastern Ukraine, but is difficult to get an accurate sense of the scale of these abuses. It is likely that many have not yet been exposed and that others have been deliberately misrecorded. It is also clear that some of the more shocking cases that have been reported, particularly by Russian media, have been hugely exaggerated,” said John Dalhuisen, Europe and Central Asia Director at Amnesty International.
“Rather than speculatively accusing each other of abuses, both sides should concentrate on investigating and eliminating execution-style killings by forces they control,” he added.
On 23 September Russian media reported the discoveries of “mass graves” in Komunar and Nyzhnya Krynka, two adjacent villages in the Donetsk Region, which until two days previously.
Amnesty International confirmed it. It said its delegation, which visited the area, found strong evidence implicating Kyiv-controlled forces in the extrajudicial executions.
by RTT Staff Writer
For comments and feedback: editorial@rttnews.com