13.02.2014

International experts have condemned the reprisal by the leadership of the Ukrainian Bar Association against their colleagues

The leadership of the Ukrainian Bar Association used sanctions to punish their ‘inconvenient colleagues’ that are not used in any European country. This was pointed out by experts of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE), a reputable organization gathering together over a million European lawyers.

11.02.2014

In Kryvyi Rih police warned students about the danger of social activism

Parents of students in our city sent the following message to the Kryvyi Rih Human Rights Association: “On February 6, 2014, a group of students of the Pedagogical institute of the Kryvyi Rih National University were summoned to the deputy president of the University. Students learned about that from their Instructor several days prior to this meeting. They were told nothing regarding the purpose of the meeting.

10.02.2014

UHHRU will conduct trainings on the European Court’s practice for lawyers defending EuroMaidan participants

The Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union launches a series of trainings for lawyers providing legal assistance to participants of EuroMaidan rallies.

06.02.2014

Statement of human rights organizations on the situation of anti-Semitism in Ukraine in the context of civil protest campaign

In recent weeks in local and international media appeared publications describing the level of anti-Semitism in Kyiv and Ukraine as extreme. Often such conclusions are made on the basis of statements of various public actors representing, as they say, different Jewish organizations.

03.02.2014

Statement of human rights organizations on the situation with anti-Semitism in the context of civic protests

We call on Ukrainian citizens and foreign observers to remain calm and critically assess the panicky statements regarding anti-Semitism in Ukraine that appear in the media.

31.01.2014

Human rights activists collect signatures in support of the Uzbeks, who were detained for holding rally in support of Ukrainian people

To authorities of the Republic of Uzbekistan We demand to stop immediately repressions against the citizens of Uzbekistan and free Umida Akhmedova, Timur Karpov, Alexei Ulko, Ashot Danielian, Ilgar Gasimov and Hulsum Osmanova.

31.01.2014

Statement of the UHHRU on the "Law on Hostages"

As matter of fact, by this law the Verkhovna Rada is putting the Ukrainian State on a par with pirates and terrorists, who use hostages as a tool to influence the situation.

30.01.2014

UHHRU provided its findings regarding the laws of January 16, 2014

The provisions of this law undermine the foundations of the criminal justice system whose cornerstone is the ability of a person to attend his/hertrial.

25.01.2014

Executive Director of UHHRU demands that the authorities investigate cases of holding hostages

On January 23, 2014, the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine on its official website posted information that about 71 persons are in custody of the state authorities and/or individual representatives of the state. Also, this message implies that the only reason for detaining these people, according to the Prosecutor General, is an intention to use their situation to encourage unknown ‘radical individuals to stop violence, arsons, pogroms, the resistance to the law enforcement, as well as to clear Hrushevsky street.’

24.01.2014

Human rights activists call on to end violence

Peaceful protest rallies involving millions of Ukrainians are going on for almost two months. The ruling regime demonstrated total indifference to the protestors’ demands and exercised repressions against them.

22.01.2014

Ukrainians prepare a big lawsuit to protect their right to peaceful assembly

Ukrainian courts satisfied almost all motions of Ukrainian authorities to ban peaceful assemblies. According to human rights activists, courts prohibited 60 out of 64 applications for peaceful assemblies. In 39 cases, courts prohibited peaceful rallies in support of European integration, while in 7 cases courts prohibited rallies in support of the Customs Union (or in support of state authorities), in other cases courts prohibited counter-rallies.

22.01.2014

Statement of the Ukrainian human rights organizations

The Draft Law of Ukraine # 3879 that was passed into law on January 16, 2014 and urgently signed by the President shows that Ukraine has entered an era of reaction and obscurantism.

20.01.2014

Front Line Defenders: Amendments curtailing fundamental rights and freedoms passed into law

On 17 January 2014, Ukraine’s President Mr Viktor Yanukovych signed a set of amendments into law which will severely restrict human rights and fundamental freedoms in the country. Law no. 3879, “On Judiciary and Status of Judges and to Procedural Laws with regard to Additional Measures to Protect Security of Citizens” makes amendments to the Criminal Code, the Code of Administrative Proceedings, the Law on Civic Associations, the Law on Security Services, the Tax Code, the Law on the Status of Judges and the Law on Telecommunications. The Ukrainian Parliament voted on the law on 16 January 2014, in a clear violation of parliamentary procedure.

20.01.2014

A code of offence against people

‘Nonsense, absurdity’, - one might say, but from now on it’s a reality. Members of the Ukrainian Parliament in violation of all possible and impossible norms of law, the Constitution, their own rules and regulations, rules of morality and common sense voted for the Law of Ukraine ‘On amendments to the Law of Ukraine ‘On the Judicial System and Status of Judges’ and procedural laws regarding additional protective measures of citizens’ safety’.

19.01.2014

Brief legal analysis of the human rights related bills considered during the Plenary Meeting of the Ukrainian Parliament on January 16, 2014 and signed by the President of Ukraine on January 17, 2014

The procedures for the consideration of draft laws (bills) and adoption of laws were violated by the Verkovna Rada (the Ukrainian Parliament) at the Plenary Meeting onJanuary 16, 2014. The procedures established by law[1] provide for special expert examination of any new legislature. Relevant Parliament committees are responsible for expert examination. When and if relevant committee issues a positive conclusion on the new bill and communicates this to all deputies at least two days prior to the voting, this draft is included in the agenda[2]. The Ukrainian Parliament overlooked the above requirement for expert conclusion, thus, making newly adoped laws unconstitutional.

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