03.11.2007

The reinstallation of the statue of Russian Empress Catherine II in Odesa sparks clashes

The unveiling of a monument dedicated to Russian Empress Catherine II in Odesa has finally taken place after being repeatedly postponed due to some local opposition but has triggered off clashes between supporters and opponents of the initiative of the City Council.

02.11.2007

Parallel Report to the UN Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights by the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union and the International Renaissance Foundation regarding Ukraine’s implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

This report has been prepared by the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union and the International Renaissance Foundation, in cooperation with other Ukrainian nongovernmental organizations, in connection with the consideration by the UN Committee on Social, Economic and Cultural Rights of Ukraine’s Fifth Periodic Report on its implementation of the provisions of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

02.11.2007

Yevhen Zakharov: “The State always nurtures the desire for control”

In an interview given to UNIAN the Head of the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union Yevhen Zakharov speaks of the dividing line between politicians and human rights defenders, the work of the Ombudsperson and the relation between material wellbeing and freedom of speech.

25.10.2007

Fastidious disgust but firm measures

The Eurasian Youth Union raised its ugly head in Ukraine on Friday, with the desecration of Ukrainian State emblems on Mount Hoverli in the Ivano-Frankivsk region. After photographing their “heroic deeds” on their mobile, the three culprits sped out of the country in the direction of Russia.

16.10.2007

Unwavering struggle: Petro Hryhorovych Grigorenko (16 October 1907 – 21 February 1987)

16 October 2007 marks the centenary of the birth of Petro Grigorenko, Soviet General, friend and defender of the Crimean Tatars, founding member of the Ukrainian Helsinki Group, Moscow dissident and later voice for the Ukrainian dissident movement in the West. Such labels invariably limit a human being and the broader the stature of the man, the more confining we feel them to be. On the other hand, they can help us to understand why this is no mere circled date for a very large number of people.

13.10.2007

Defending the defenders

Recommended reading for those who think nothing has changed in Ukraine, and for those who need reminding that civic society in Russian and Belarus needs support

11.10.2007

Constitutional players in what is no game

The Constitution being one of those immortal documents Ukrainian politicians like to change, but are loath to adhere to (or read), the proposed constitutional council for drawing up a new version has aroused strong interest but understandable concerns among civic society

11.10.2007

The 2007 early parliamentary elections: a general assessment

While the elections were democratic and fair, the author points to shortcomings resulting from flaws in the electoral law, partly caused by the wish of legislators after 2004 to avoid vote-rigging

05.10.2007

EU – Ukraine: Visa facilitation for Ukrainians? A long-standing hoax

Written contribution for OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting of the Human Rights Without Frontieres (Warsaw, 26 September 2007).

05.10.2007

A Democratic ABC for Ukrainian politicians with learning problems

The Ukrainian people have once again demonstrated their democratic choice. This time, however, they, at least, have learned and will be taking no chances. Some of the lessons are easy if we don’t if we don’t balk at being a touch monotonous and if we don’t fear stating what any idiot should understand. We made that mistake before. From now on, let them groan with boredom – they will learn.

21.09.2007

Why Ukrainian civic society wants no more conflict of interests

Ukrainian civic organizations have once again raised the alarm over the possible election in the next weeks of a prominent Ukrainian politician to the post of European Court of Human Rights Judge. The election of a Human Rights Ombudsperson directly linked with party politics seriously damaged Ukraine’s reputation in Europe. It also damaged, not for the first time, our confidence that politicians in Ukraine understand that it is the public’s interests they should represent, not their own.

06.09.2007

Not so great expectations

The survey carried out from 19 June to 2 July this year found that only 28% of respondents were convinced that the elections would be free and fair while 52% were convinced that they would not, while 20% could not say. This figure is higher than in during the analogous survey in 2004.

31.08.2007

Sniffing out political menus

A glance sideways at what is happening in Russia can do the world of good to those forlornly trying to hold on to their hopes for swift democratic reform in Ukraine. Two electoral palates, so to speak, are being catered for. We have one table, decked with all kinds of embellishments but no need for a menu, since what is on offer is fixed fare. And then there is another table infringing all rules of symmetry and order with its chaotic mishmash of different dishes.

20.08.2007

No carving up Ukraine’s heritage!

Crucial appeal court ruling imminent over the landscape park “Granite-Steppe Pobuzhya” in which Energoatom is fighting public opposition to its plans to flood part of an area of vital environmental, historic and cultural significance

14.08.2007

Public access to penal institutions constantly under attack

Recently imposed restrictions allowing access to penal institutions only at weekends demonstrate the unwillingness of the Department to cooperate with the public and foster a lack of openness which can foster abuse of prisoners’ rights

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