Ukraine’s Anti-Discrimination Ombudsperson has set an important, though controversial, precedent by demanding that a petition purporting to ‘defend family values’ be removed from the President’s official website as in violation of the rights of sexual minorities and inciting discrimination.  The petition in question “asked for measures to be taken to stop propaganda of homosexuality and made some highly contentious assertions

Ivan Bubenchyk, the Maidan activist and veteran of the war in Donbas who was reported to have told a journalist in 2016 that he had shot and killed two Berkut special purpose police officers during Euromaidan has been arrested on suspicion of two murders and one attempted murder.

Ivan Bubenchyk, the Maidan activist and veteran of the war in Donbas who was reported to have told a journalist in 2016 that he had shot and killed two Berkut special purpose police officers during Euromaidan has been arrested on suspicion of two murders and one attempted murder.

Russia is deliberately creating an atmosphere of fear and aggression in occupied Crimea with Ukraine and Ukrainians pitched as ‘the enemy’

Russia is deliberately creating an atmosphere of fear and aggression in occupied Crimea with Ukraine and Ukrainians pitched as ‘the enemy’

The Prosecutor’s office has effectively stolen Azerbaijani journalist Fikret Huseynli’s passport despite a court ruling which makes it possible for him to leave Ukraine

It is four years since Mykola Shyptur became Russia’s first and least-known Ukrainian political prisoner in occupied Crimea.  Although the circumstances remain unclear, it seems likely that the intervention of a police officer may have resulted in his politically motivated 9-year sentence, but did at least save his life.

It is four years since Mykola Shyptur became Russia’s first and least-known Ukrainian political prisoner in occupied Crimea.  Although the circumstances remain unclear, it seems likely that the intervention of a police officer may have resulted in his politically motivated 9-year sentence, but did at least save his life.

Russia has responded to Ukraine’s expulsion of 13 diplomats with nominal symmetry, but brutal precision, targeting both Moscow and the consulate in Rostov where many of Russia’s politically-motivated trials of Ukrainians are held.  Rostov also borders areas of Donbas under Kremlin-backed militant control, and Russia would doubtless prefer as few Ukrainian eyes as possible monitoring its regular flow of fighters, military equipment and arms across the border.

Russia has responded to Ukraine’s expulsion of 13 diplomats with nominal symmetry, but brutal precision, targeting both Moscow and the consulate in Rostov where many of Russia’s politically-motivated trials of Ukrainians are held.  Rostov also borders areas of Donbas under Kremlin-backed militant control, and Russia would doubtless prefer as few Ukrainian eyes as possible monitoring its regular flow of fighters, military equipment and arms across the border.

Russia has responded to Ukraine’s expulsion of 13 diplomats with nominal symmetry, but brutal precision, targeting both Moscow and the consulate in Rostov where many of Russia’s politically-motivated trials of Ukrainians are held.  Rostov also borders areas of Donbas under Kremlin-backed militant control, and Russia would doubtless prefer as few Ukrainian eyes as possible monitoring its regular flow of fighters, military equipment and arms across the border.

Almost two weeks after political prisoner Volodymyr Balukh went on hunger strike in Russian-occupied Crimea, his lawyer has only just been able to see him.  She reports that he is looking thin and gaunt, and that the SIZO [remand prison] staff are putting pressure on him to end his hunger strike.

Almost two weeks after political prisoner Volodymyr Balukh went on hunger strike in Russian-occupied Crimea, his lawyer has only just been able to see him.  She reports that he is looking thin and gaunt, and that the SIZO [remand prison] staff are putting pressure on him to end his hunger strike.

Yuri Krysin, the head of the ‘titushky’, or hired thugs involved in killings, abductions and attacks on Euromaidan activists, has been remanded in custody on charges which could carry a 10-year sentence.  The development comes three months after Krysin’s extraordinarily light four-year suspended sentence for his part in the savage beating and murder of Vesti journalist Vyacheslav Veremiy on 19 February, 2014 aroused outrage both in Ukraine and abroad

Yuri Krysin, the head of the ‘titushky’, or hired thugs involved in killings, abductions and attacks on Euromaidan activists, has been remanded in custody on charges which could carry a 10-year sentence.  The development comes three months after Krysin’s extraordinarily light four-year suspended sentence for his part in the savage beating and murder of Vesti journalist Vyacheslav Veremiy on 19 February, 2014 aroused outrage both in Ukraine and abroad

Ukraine is fed up with Russian airlines not paying the 5 billion UAH they owe for illegal flights to Crimea & plan to seek the arrest of the planes when they land in other countries. While hurdles are inevitable, the move will raise important – and uncomfortable – questions about appropriate measures against brazen violations of international law and sanctions.

Ukraine is fed up with Russian airlines not paying the 5 billion UAH they owe for illegal flights to Crimea & plan to seek the arrest of the planes when they land in other countries. While hurdles are inevitable, the move will raise important – and uncomfortable – questions about appropriate measures against brazen violations of international law and sanctions.

Verdict is due on 5 April in the trial of Yuri Dmitriev, a world-renowned Russian historian and head of the Karelia branch of the Memorial Society. The prosecution has demanded a 9-year sentence, despite even the expert assessments ordered by the court dismissing the charges

The supposed investigation into the abduction of Ervin Ibragimov, Crimean Tatar activist and member of the World Congress of Crimean Tatars Executive Committee was abandoned in Russian-occupied Crimea without ever really being started.  Given the video footage from May 24, 2016, showing Ibragimov being dragged away by men in uniform, the lies told and resistance to any real investigation look damning. 

The supposed investigation into the abduction of Ervin Ibragimov, Crimean Tatar activist and member of the World Congress of Crimean Tatars Executive Committee was abandoned in Russian-occupied Crimea without ever really being started.  Given the video footage from May 24, 2016, showing Ibragimov being dragged away by men in uniform, the lies told and resistance to any real investigation look damning.