Mass graves in eastern Ukraine must be investigated

Russia calls for an international investigation into the discovery of a mass grave near Donetsk (eastern Ukraine). 

Mass graves of civilians were found at the sites that were occupied earlier by the Ukrainian security forces.

The first burial was unearthed in the mine "Communar" near Donetsk. The bodies of men, covered with a thin layer of earth, were found by the miners. They were clearing the area of mines and mine extensions, the usual "gifts" left behind by the Ukrainian security services, who vacated a fully equipped military camp here on Sunday under the terms of the armistice.

 This time, the "surprise" was even more terrible. In the presence of the inspectors of the OSCE four bodies were exhumed from the mass grave: one man and three women, one of them believed to be pregnant. All were dressed in civilian clothes. All had their hands bound and there were traces of gunshots in their heads. In two case, the heads were completely severed from the body. The identity of these people and the time of their death will be determined by forensic scientists. But the circumstances of their deaths must be investigated at the international level. The guilty must not be allowed to escape responsibility, emphasizes the expert of the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies Azhdar Kurtov:

“More and more evidence suggests that the people who were killed did not carry weapons and were not participating in the hostilities on the side of the militia. The remains unearthed in the area suggest that people were tortured: parts of their bodies were severed, various signs were burnt into the skin of the victims, including Nazi symbols. These facts are the basis for starting an international investigation. Why is the West, who likes to call for the protection of human rights, still actively discussing the topic of violations of humanitarian norms during, say, the wars in the Balkans? The tragedy in Srebrenica (Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina) has persistently remained on the newspaper pages and TV screens, but the same issue in relation to the south-east Ukraine is not given any coverage.”

Western supporters of the current administration in Kiev do not pay any heed to the crimes of their henchmen. There has been no progress in the investigations of the tragedy in Odessa. On May 2, 2014 the Nationalists drove the opponents of forced regime change in Ukraine into the House of Trade Unions and set them to fire. 48 people were burnt alive or died while trying to escape from the fire, more than 200 were injured. Under pressure from Russia, Ukraine set up a special commission to investigate what happened in Odessa, but after more than 4 months the result of investigations is zero. International experts are not permitted to participate in the investigations.

But now, after the discovery of mass graves near Donetsk, Ukrainian National Guard cannot escape responsibility for crimes against civilians, says the head of the State Duma Committee on Foreign Affairs Alexei Pushkov. Moscow, on its part, intends to raise this issue at the international legal venues - the Council of Europe, the European parliament, OSCE.

The "Communar" mine is not the only unmarked grave found in recent days. At the entrance to the nearby village, a pit was found with the bodies of five people. According to local residents, the National Guard fighters shot people for alleged connection with the militia. The fate of many people is still unknown. Chances are that many more mass graves will be found in the district.
indian.ruvr.ru
24/9/14
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Related:

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• Parties at Minsk Talks Agree on Memorandum Regulating Ukrainian Ceasefire Implementation (MINSK MEMORANDUM, 20.09.14)

• Ukraine's government and pro-Russia rebels have agreed a memorandum on a peace plan for the eastern conflict.(20/9/14)

• Ukraine and rebels agree to ceasefire (starting from 18:00, September 5) / Statement of President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko