Polkov is accused of having issued the order in autumn 2004 to crush the mass protests in Kyiv against violations during the presidential elections. At that time he held the post of Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs and commander of the internal forces.

A member of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church’s “Justice and Peace” Commission stressed that it was vital to pay attention to the factors contributing to migration from Ukraine, these including corruption, bureaucracy, unemployment and poverty

The reconstruction of residential areas (micro-districts) from the obsolete housing fund is to take place. Whether individuals’ property rights may be violated has proven a secondary consideration

Yesterday the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe called on the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to elect an Ombudsperson who is politically independent and does not belong to any political party. The PACE rapporteurs pointed to the fact that Nina Karpachova had broken her oath and the law through her political engagement

A press conference was held on 10 January to mark the 35th anniversary on 12 January of the wave pf arrests and the day which came to be commemorated as the Day of the Ukrainian Political Prisoner. It was held early because of the imminent election of a new Human Rights Ombudsperson – scheduled for 11 January but cancelled virtually at the last moment

On 9 January press conferences and roundtables were held throughout Ukraine as part of the civic campaign to ensure that the next Human Rights Ombudsperson is honest, independent and totally committed to defending human rights and civil liberties in Ukraine

More than 100 people have received free legal defence from KHPG in courts, and several thousand have received free consultations

While the outstanding wages have been paid, the miners have other demands including independent status and the restoration of subsidies withdrawn in December

The lawyer of the victims in the case against ex-head of the Lviv SIZO [pre-trial detention centre] Vasyl Romanyshyn believes that the court investigation is being deliberately dragged out. The Halytsky Local Court has sent the case for further investigation.

The author uses cases he is aware of in Zachepylivka (Kharkiv region) to demonstrate why the courts are inundated with complaints from the public specifically over violations of their legitimate right to a fair trial

On 29 December the BBC Ukrainian Service interviewed Yevhen Zakharov, Head of the Board of the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union and candidate for the post of Human Rights Ombudsperson. He spoke of the mounting causes for concern in today’s Ukraine, the unprecedented way his candidacy has come about through support from civic society, and why he is confident of his ability to withstand any political pressure or temptations

The given draft laws were prepared and approved by the National Commission for the Strengthening of Democracy and the Rule of Law and have important innovations aimed at bringing the judiciary into line with European standards

The Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group has received complaints from foreign students in Kharkiv saying that in the last 6 months there has been a significant increase in aggression towards them. The students are unfortunately often frightened to approach the police

It is embarrassing to have to spell out (in public!) that a Human Rights Ombudsperson, whom each of us has the right to turn to for protection of our rights, cannot be a State Deputy (MP). I see no other choice, however, but with words of not too many syllables to explain why civic society in Ukraine is calling on one candidate for the post of Human Rights Ombudsperson to withdraw her candidacy, and wishes to remind State Deputies that they were elected to defend the rights of all their voters.

The Alliance “Human Rights Defenders of Uzbekistan” has accused the Turkmenistan Security Service of involvement in the disappearance of Nurberdi Nurmamedov who has disappeared after attempts by the Unioon of Democratic Forces to put him forward as candidate for the coming elections.

According to the Minister, changes incorporate recommendations made by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe from 5 October 2005

Asked who was behind the removal of the newspaper from sale, its Chief Editor replied that at present they did not suspect anyone in particular, however they knew definitely why it had happened, and this was because of material about the Mayor entitled “Headless horsemen"

Most, although not all. of the new accreditation rules which led Crimean journalists to declare a boycott three weeks ago have been removed

According to a statement released during the evening of Wednesday, 27 December, the Cabinet of Ministers is not involved in circulating information material which allegedly has recommendations on coverage of the government’s work

The Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union is convinced that the law fails to provide sufficient guarantees for citizens’ rights to property and housing, and that it also has a number of shortcomings which will make it difficult to apply