CENTER FOR CIVIL LIBERTIES
ANNUAL REPORT 2019 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CENTER FOR CIVIL LIBERTIES 2019
ADDRESS: 9g Baseina Str., of. 28, Kyiv, Email: [email protected]
www.ccl.org.ua fb.com/ccl.org.ua
Rapporteur — Serhii Okuniev
Kyiv 2020 CONTENTS
1. Opening remarks 4
2. About Center for Civil Liberties 7
2.1 Reorganisation 8
2.2 Volunteers and interns 9
3. Coalitions and initiatives of the CCL 12
3.1 Activities of the Human Rights Agenda Platform 13
3.2 Overcoming the effects of armed conflict 19
3.3. #SaveOlegSentsov Campaign and actions in support of all Kremlin prisoners 24
3.4 OZONE Public Watchers Group 30
3.5. Euromaidan SOS 36
4. Protection of human rights and certain vulnerable groups 40
5. Human rights education and enlightenment 42
6. International advocacy 45
7. International solidarity 47
8. Achievements 50
9. Center for Civil Liberties team 52
10. Communications and cooperation with mass media 55
11. Financial report for 2019 56 WWW.CCL.ORG.UA
1. OPENING REMARKS
re-election 2019 interim when I went to the platform The situation is complicat- year summed up the was a phone talk of a train ed by fragmentation within P previous five post- station employee — “Have you civil society itself and the Maidan years. Unfortunately, seen the faces of those scoun- widening gap within the after the Revolution of Dignity, drels in Parliament?” We move general public. The number there was no fundamental on to the next stage of course of of citizens involved in reset of political elites. events in the context of the war public activities decreased Close to the elections, the with Russia. The previous one by 7.5% in 2019. Human discussion about “the success was about military mobilisation rights organisations have the of Ukrainian reforms” was and repelling the aggressor. responsibility to go beyond for some reason reduced Now the course for dialogue the boundaries of the “human exclusively to the problem of and possible solution of the rights ghetto”, to actively “is the glass half- empty or half- issues at the referendum is communicate with society, full”. However, the question declared. Any dialogue during and to engage large segments has to be asked differently: will the ongoing war is very painful of population in human rights this glass have enough water for society. The task of civil work. Otherwise, in 5 years we to make a jump and get out of society is to bring meaning to simply have no one to rely on. the constant turbulence zone. the process, not to forget the It is worth noting that Sociology showed a huge protection of rights in the occu- I have only mentioned the public demand for new faces pied Crimea and Donbas, to set problems, not the successes and a new quality of politics. the red flags, and to make these that also took place in However, since TV still plays complex issues easy for under- 2019. If you look at Ukraine a huge role in communication standing by ordinary people. from a greater distance with voters and almost all TV Ukraine needs real reforms and compare it with other channels support the political in deregulation, demonop- countries in our region they agendas of their owners, this olisation, tax system, and seem more noticeable. Thus, demand for renewal was rule of law with judicial and there are many challenges accumulated by quite specific law enforcement reforms we need to take seriously. people. During the inaugura- playing a key role. We still However, there are chances tion, I was on the train to Kyiv, need the engagement of the for a successful democratic and when I surfed the Internet, international community and transformation of the I read on Facebook the assess- the energy of civil society. country, which will have ments of experts who were The role of an observer with a huge impact on the entire concerned with the populist popcorn in this historic post- Soviet space. And this campaign of the Ze! Team. period is destructive and is what imposes a special However, the first thing I heard simply irresponsible. responsibility on all of us.
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ANNUAL REPORT 2019 1. OPENING REMARKS And this is what imposes a special“ “ responsibility on all of us.
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www.ccl.org.ua fb.com/ccl.org.ua
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2. ABOUT THE CENTER FOR CIVIL LIBERTIES
enter for Civil Liberties (CCL) is a Ukrainian human rights organisation founded in 2007. CCL conducts monitoring and analysis of draft laws on the conformity with the standards of human С rights, carries out public control over the actions of law enforcement agencies, courts and local authorities, over the investigation of the crimes committed during the Euromaidan, registers political persecutions, human rights violations and war crimes in the Donbas, leads educational activities in the field of human rights and democracy, takes part in international solidarity programmes, etc.
OUR MISSION:
To work for the establishment of human rights, democracy and solidarity in Ukraine and the OSCE region for the establishment of human dignity.
VISION:
CCL is one of the leading actors in Ukraine, which influences the formation of public opinion and state policy, supports the development of civil activism, and actively participates in international networks and solidarity actions to promote human rights in the OSCE region.
OUR VALUES:
respect for human dignity;
freedom and human rights; solidarity;
the rule of law; impartiality;
democracy; non-discrimination
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2.1 Reorganisation
n 2019, a reorganisation of the administration took I place within the Center General External for Civil Liberties. We have participants' Supervisory created a system that fully meeting Board complies with European (supreme governing body) standards and will make the work of our organisation more accessible and transparent both for the members of our NGO and for partners. A system of governing bodies has been established and their Governing areas of responsibility have Management Auditor been expanded: Board or Audit Commission General participants’ meeting: (permanent governing body; strategic decision making, at least 5 persons) internal audit the election of the board, charter, strategic planning, participation in the formation and approval of vision, mission and values Supervisory Board: Chairman evaluation of the organisation of the activities, resolution of con- Board flicts within the organisation, consultations on vision, mis- sion and strategic planning Management Board: administrative decisions, tactical planning for strategy implementation, evaluation of operational tasks Executive Executive CCL team: tactical plan Director Board of execution, operational of CCL Personnel plan development (area coordinators)
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2.2 Volunteers and interns
s part of its work, generation of human rights the Center for Civil defenders, where everyone A Liberties defines can become part of a big one of its goals as the movement. We are joined by development and support of all those who want to change the volunteer movement. In the country, to promote particular, the organisation human rights principles, constantly recruits and to control authorities and organises activities for to protect others. Our volunteers who wish to volunteers organise actions, participate in the activities flashmobs, educational 80 of human rights defenders. events, take part in public volunteers The CCL volunteers help observation, have social us create an environment media pages, do analytical in the CCL for the growth of a new and design work, etc. community
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The Center has an intern- at helping employees of of the offered internships ship programme as a special the organisation but also are to provide interns with form of activity, which is at directly transferring the opportunity to gain carried out on a volunteer experience and skills to practical experience in the basis and is aimed not only interns. The main objectives area related to their academic
interns13
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programme or future work; provide the opportunities internship programmes at to acquire practical skills and for CCL initiatives to benefit the Center. Among them, capacity in relevant areas; from the interns’ work. there were 6 foreign interns to gain work experience in In particular, this year from France, Denmark, a human rights non- gov- 13 selected candidates Sweden and the USA. ernmental organisation; to became participants of
“During my internship with the CCL, I took the Introductory and Basic Human Rights Courses, which greatly broadened my horizons and encouraged me to think more critically. I have deepened my knowledge about transitional justice and the European Court of Human Rights. In the United States, we mostly study the UN system and spend very little time on studying other regional systems, so for me this new knowledge is very valuable. The brightest part of my internship was participation in the Kremlin Prisoners regional tour! It was a great honour for me to represent the #SaveOlegSentsov campaign in the first two cities — Odesa and Kherson. I am very grateful to the CCL team for this opportunity to test my abilities and leave my shell, as well as for the faith in me”.
Comment of intern Lisa May (The Fletcher School at Tufts University, USA)
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3. COALITIONS AND INITIATIVES OF THE CCL
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3.1 Activities of the Human Rights Agenda Platform
uring 2019, the Rights Agenda supported the most relevant issues in coalition of human 16 applications and 7 appeals the field of human rights D rights organisations, to the authorities to protect in Ukraine and in the world the Human Rights Agenda fundamental rights and were discussed. Platform, continued to freedoms. Also, 2 action The Coalition focused work on monitoring, plans on directions were its attention on the most analysis and development developed and 1 resolution striking violations by of legislation in accordance was issued in cooperation the state, in particular, with the principles of human with partners. Human systematic persecution rights and fundamental Rights Clubs are regularly of civic activists in the freedoms. The Human held during the year, where occupied Crimea.
10 INCONVENIENT QUESTIONS TO PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES”
Furthermore, in the election position thereon, which for the human rights year, our coalition prepared was important both community and for voters. two campaigns which were implemented during the presidential elections and early parliamentary elections. Since the beginning of 2019, we had been conducting a “10 inconvenient questions to presidential candidates related to the protection of human rights in Ukraine” campaign. The Human Rights Coalition defined the most relevant and painful issues in the field of human rights and called on the presidential candidates to publicly express their
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During this campaign, Not all listed presidential not only did we send these candidates supported the questions to candidates` ratification of the Rome headquarters, but also con- 40 Statute, appealing to the fact ducted an active information public that this issue is not a pri- campaign. Our experts and ority and relevant for them, partners asked questions live statements and there is a possible risk of on television and radio. The prosecution of persons who questions were aimed at the participated in volunteer support of the ratification battalions in 2014 and fought of the Rome Statute and the with terrorist groups in Istanbul Convention, imple- the territory of Donbas. mentation of international It is worth noting that, humanitarian law in Ukrainian unfortunately, the highly-rated legislation, cancellation of presidential candidates did the land moratorium, etc. campaign was mentioned not provide answers to our about 10 times in the media. questions. However, taking into In total, during the account the fact that the goal of campaign, we sent We received answers our campaign was to publicly 40 public statements to from the following presi- demonstrate the positions presidential candidates, dential candidates: Valentyn of the candidates, the lack of received over 10 responses, Nalyvaichenko, Ruslan answers is also indicative. Un- which were published, Koshulynskyi, Roman Bezs- fortunately, it can be concluded conducted two press mertnyi, Anatolii Hrytsenko, that the key participants of conferences, participated Inna Bohoslovska, Ruslan these election campaigns did in over 10 television and Ryhovanov, Henadii Bal- not put a priority on the issue radio broadcasts, the ashov, Olha Bohomolets. of human rights protection.
13 STEPS FOR PARLIAMENT
During the parliamentary We put these issues for campaign entitled “Human elections, the Human Rights public discussion and called Rights Action Plan for the new Agenda formulated questions upon the human right Parliament” was launched. for the parties running for advocates and experts to get Under the campaign, we parliament and selected involved in the drafting of held several meetings with 13 first steps for the future the human rights protection the parties’ representatives parliament. We developed action plan for the new where we presented our a road map for the parties parliament and the President. action plan and heard answers heading to the Verkhovna n early July, we publicly to important questions. Rada, for the first months presented the action plan There were only of work. Among the tasks for the new Parliament. The 5 parties interested in the for Parliamentarians, the issues were selected, formu- meeting: “Sluha Narodu” ratification of the Rome lated and sent to all parties (Servant of the People), Statute and the adoption of that according to ratings “Samopomich” (Selfhelp), the draft law 9438 on war could make it to the Verkhov- “Holos” (Voice), “European criminals were the main ones. na Rada of Ukraine. A public Solidarity”, “Syla i Chest”
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(Strength and Dignity). The “Hromadyanska Pozystia” In total during the parties “Ukrainian Strategy (Civic Position) did not campaign, we had over of Hroisman”, “Batkivshyna” respond to the meeting 10 meetings with party (Motherland), “Opposition proposal and did not provide representatives, held Platform ‘Za Zhyttya’” (For their written answers. two press conferences, Life), “Opposition Block”, On July 19, 2019, we sum- participated in over marised the campaign and 15 television and radio publicly presented the results broadcasts. The campaign of work with the parties. was mentioned over 10 times in the media.
This autumn, after the final formation of the Parliament and committees of the Verkhovna Rada, we launched the process of the “13 steps” implementation. It should be noted that some 10 of our paragraphs are being meetings actively adopted, in particular, with party cancellation of the morato- representatives rium on the land market.
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NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS NON-CONFERENCE2019
On December 10, the Human Rights Day, Kyiv hosted the opening of the country’s largest Human Rights non-Conference. This year’s event can claim to be the largest since it was first held both in terms of the number of participants and the number of workshops. The main feature of the non-Conference is thematic workshops that take place simultaneously and cover a wide variety of topics, from the protection of the LGBT rights to the Kremlin prisoners. A total of about each covering a different which is pretty much the two dozen different platforms topic. The event was attended best indicator in the history were organised this year, by about 400 participants, of the non-Conference.
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NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD2019
A mandatory attribute of the winner, yet she was often involves personal risks the non-Conference is not announced publicly. and requires anonymity. a national human rights The reason for this is the Therefore, the award was award, which is given to nature of her activities. handed over to former a nominee chosen by the The jury decided to award hostages in the occupied members of the Human the nominee for her work territories Iryna Dovhan Rights Agenda Platform. related to the protection and Valerii Nasiedkin, The 2019 award was held of human rights in the who later presented in the unusual format. The occupied territories, and, the award to the winner organisers determined unfortunately, such work behind the closed doors.
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3.2 Overcoming the effects of armed conflict
An important part of our of an effective mechanism organisation’s activities is the to ensure bringing to protection of human rights responsibility for the gravest in the occupied territories, crimes committed during the as well as the establishment military conflict.
CAMPAIGN FOR THE RATIFICATION OF THE ROME STATUTE
On June 30, 2019, the during the election campaign, in the nearest future and three-year postponement the Human Rights Agenda becomes a full member of the of entering into force of called on all political forces International Criminal Court. the new constitutional running in the parliamentary Together with our provisions, which facilitate elections to do their utmost colleagues, we issued the ratification of the Rome to ensure that Ukraine a statement regarding the Statute, expired. This is why, ratifies the Rome Statute expiration of the three-year
meetings15 on the ratification of the Rome Statute
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postponement of the Rome constantly advocating for Statute ratification, as it the ratification of the Rome will allow the International Statute and implementation Criminal Court prosecutors of the international hu- from The Hague to efficiently manitarian law standards. work in Ukraine and will help We organised a number achieve a fair punishment. of events and spoke at Under the campaigns other platforms, where “10 awkward questions to myths and fears about the presidential candidates” ratification of the Rome and “13 steps for the new Statute were dispelled. parliament”, one of the key Indeed, in 2019, this issue topics was the ratification of became more urgent for the Rome Statute in Ukraine. politicians and society. Under the campaigns “10 We published several inconvenient questions to articles, held a press presidential candidates” conference, organised over and “13 steps for the new 4 round tables to discuss parliament”, one of the key ratification issues. In topics was the ratification of total, in 2019, we held over the Rome Statute in Ukraine. 15 meetings and partici- Throughout the year, we pated in 10 other events have been working at related to this issue in international platforms (the support of the ratification UN, the PACE, the OSCE), of the Rome Statute.
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CAMPAIGN TOWARDS ADOPTION OF THE DRAFT LAW “ON WAR CRIMINALS”
Throughout the year, we On February 7, 2019, we held As late as February 27 at made every effort to draw an action within the Ukrainian a meeting of the Verkhovna attention to our draft law Parliament together with our Rada Committee on on war criminals which ambassadors of the draft law Legislative Support of Law should introduce an effective on war criminals. On the side- Enforcement Activities mechanism and serious lines of the Verkhovna Rada, a decision to recommend responsibility for crimes we distributed printed materi- to the Verkhovna Rada to against humanity and als and talked personally with adopt the draft law “On war crimes in Ukraine. the MPs about the relevance Amendments to Certain As late as January we and need for this draft law. Legislative Acts of Ukraine began negotiations with On February 7, 2019, we held regarding the Harmonisation the relevant committee an action within the Ukrainian of Criminal Legislation with of the Verkhovna Rada of Parliament together with our International Law Provi- Ukraine on Legislative ambassadors of the draft law sions” (reg. No. 9438) in the Support of Law Enforcement on war criminals. In lobbies of first reading was made. Activities to support and the Verkhovna Rada, we dis- However, the draft law promote the draft law on tributed printed materials and had not been submitted to harmonisation of Ukrainian talked personally with people’s the agenda of the session criminal legislation with the deputies about the relevance of the Verkhovna Rada of international law standards. and need for this draft law. Ukraine for a long time.
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Therefore, we continued the campaign in support of the draft law on war crimi- nals by raising the issue of impunity at the international film festivals DocudaysUA 2019 and Molodist where we presented excerpts from the 3D film Hostages of War and held a flashmob called “punish war criminals”. The virtual reality glasses allowed the participants to feel themselves in the basement of the DPR, where prisoners were held and tortured, and to hear the stories from the hostages and their loved ones. In May and June, we held two major public actions in support of the adoption of draft law No. 9438. The actions caused a huge resonance in the media. As a result, the public campaign reached the Parliament as well. Parlia- mentarians were finally forced to adopt the draft law on war criminals in the first reading on June 6, 2019. Throughout the way to the first small victory, we were supported by international organisations, non-govern- mental organisations, and state authorities which unanimously approved the legislative initiative. After all, the draft law is aimed at harmonising Ukrainian criminal legislation with the provisions of International Humanitarian Law. During the campaign, we held over 100 meetings with representatives of international organisations,
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result. The Committee on Law Enforcement was unable to take a decision on the draft law, only a working group was created to work on the comments and suggestions to the version. Our struggle continues until justice prevails over impunity. In total, during the campaign in support of the draft law on war criminals, we held about 10 public actions and over 50 advo- cacy meetings, organised and participated in expert discussions at various events more than 30 times. Over 80 articles and news stories regarding our law were written and filmed.
state authorities, the Gov- the war with Russia and active ernment, and parliament, service members in plain held public events and language and also dispelled actions where we discussed myths and assertions con- the necessity of adopting the cerning criminal prosecution draft law on war criminals. of the Ukrainian military We also started working or other persons, who took with a new target group con- part in counteraction of sisting of service members the armed aggression of and veterans, who are direct Russia on behalf of Ukraine. witnesses of war crimes As late as autumn, the committed by the Russian new parliament registered Federation and pro-Russian draft law under No. 0892 militants in Donbas. We tried and undertook to adopt it. 50 to explain the essence of draft However, by the end of the advocacy law No. 9438 to the veterans of year, we did not get a positive meetings
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3.3. #SaveOlegSentsov Campaign and actions in support of all Kremlin prisoners
019 was a landmark for From 9 p. m. to 1 a. m. several turned out to be a real concert our organisation that hundred people gathered in with artists whom many major 2 has been campaigning downtown Kyiv, in the cultural festivals would envy. for Kremlin prisoners since space “IZONE”, for a big Oleg’s birthday was 2014. The #SaveOlegSentsov meeting dedicated to Oleg celebrated and Kremlin campaign that we launched Sentsov’s birthday. The meeting prisoners were supported by last year continued to be active was attended by human rights free-of-charge performances and only grew in scope. On activists, writers, actors, and by Andrii Khlyvniuk (Bum- July 13, we held the campaign friends of Oleg. Anticipated boks), MC Tapolsky, and Anton called “Night with Oleg Sentsov”. as a small one the meeting Sliepakov (Vahonovozhatye).
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The “Night with Oleg number of Ukrainian political the local residents to write Sentsov” was one of the prisoners in the occupied letters for those behind bars. most prominent actions, but Crimea and Russia, was In total, during this tour, we hardly the only. Throughout installed in each city. Next collected almost half a thou- the year, SaveSentsov to the installation, there sand letters and postcards. volunteers held dozens was a tent inside of which On September 7, when our of actions in support of our volunteers provided the volunteers were conducting Ukrainian political prisoners. citizens with the current the action in Mariupol, some In August 2019, our volun- information as to the Kremlin Ukrainian political prisoners teers took part in the “human prisoners, as well as offered returned to their homeland. rights landing force”, all- Ukrainian action “Prisoners of the Kremlin”, which was held with the participation of ten major human rights organisations in Ukraine and covered 11 cities. Our volun- teers visited Odesa, Kherson, Kharkiv, Mariupol, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Chernivtsi, Lviv, Vinnytsia, Chernihiv, and Kyiv. The installation consisting of metal traps, the number of which coincides with the
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Oleg Sentsov, Oleksandr We told Oleg Sentsov, However, despite the Kolchenko, Volodymyr Balukh, Mykola Karpyiuk, Oleksandr “Exchange”, our campaign and all Ukrainian sailors previ- Kolchenko, and Volodymyr proceeds. After Oleg Sentsov’s ously detained in Kerch, etc. Balukh about the campaigns return to the homeland, we were among those released. in their support we had been held several actions and A few weeks after the holding for several years events in support of Ukrai- release, we held the informal and personally handed over nians and Crimean Tatars meeting of ex-political pris- those letters that had been imprisoned in Russia and oners with the participants collected for them during Crimea. There was an action of our volunteer campaign. the “Kremlin Prisoners” tour. held on Maidan on Volodymyr
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Dudka’s birthday and a big the beginning of 2020 we are “Evening with Stanislav Asiei- fighting for every Ukrainian ev” dedicated to the birthday prisoner in Russia and the of the imprisoned journalist. occupied territories under In autumn 2019, the the name #PrisonersVoice initiative group of the while keeping one of our #SaveOlegSentsov campaign main slogans — become the decided to rename it. From voice of Kremlin prisoners!
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3.4 OZON Civic Monitoring Group
voluntary association Civic monitors are an bodies being directly carried of active citizens independent party always out by the citizens themselves. A who are aware of the being ABOVE the process. The special aspect of the importance of quality public The aim is to improve the group’s activities is wide control over the actions of work of government bodies involvement of “ordinary” the authorities, as well as over in the area of human rights citizens in public control the key processes that take through an organised system regardless of their previous place on the line of contact of independent control specialisation and experience. between society or between over them. Through their The task of monitors is the person and the state. work, groups of monitors documenting the events The work of the initiative is popularise the concept of the going on around the peaceful coordinated by the human authority as a hired manager assemblies and tracking rights organisation Center for with the evaluation of the violations during court trials. Civil Liberties. effectiveness of government The recorded data is subject
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to analysis for compliance easily recognised by special Kyiv and regions joined the with the national legislation yellow vests and ID cards with OZON activities. In total, over and international standards. the words “civic monitor”. 100 volunteers took part in OZON volunteers are During the year, over civic monitoring and public visible for the public and 70 new volunteers from control actions in 2019.
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EXAMPLES OF RESULTS OF MONITORING BY PUBLIC WATCHERS PRESENTED IN THE REPORTS:
• Equality March 2019 • KharkivPride March • March 8, 2019 action http://c cl.org.ua/ http://o zon.monitoring. monitoring results reports/monitorynh- tilda.ws/hrkvprd19 http://c cl.org.ua/ marshu-rivnosti ‑2019 reports/ozon-rezul- taty-monitorynhiv- aktsiy‑8-bereznia‑2019
•
• May 9 in Kyiv http://c cl.org.ua/
reports/monitorynh‑9- travnia‑2019-u-kyievi
OdesaPride Equality
March 2019 Accessibility of courts • http: //o zon.monitoring. in Kyiv (2019) tilda.ws/page7216527.html http://c cl.org.ua/ reports/dostupnist- МАРШІ ДО 9 ТРАВНЯ
• TRANS MARCH2019 sudiv-u-kyievi ‑2019
http://o zon.monitoring.
tilda.ws/page8401235.html
Висновки моніторингової групи «ОЗОН»
9 травня 2019
Київ
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IN 2019, THE MAIDAN CASES OZON CIVIC MONITORS GROUP Over 70 court hearings were CARRIED OUT: attended under the Maidan 32 Cases public monitoring 32 training events were training campaign, which was organized, including events launched in September 21 trainings and 2019. The questionnaire for masterclasses, 9 briefings, training under the campaign 2 lectures. Our monitors also was filled in by about 120 participated in 4 professional people, for whom 4 trainings development events with experts have already organised by ODIHR/ OSCE, been conducted. In Kyiv, European Center for Not- 21 court hearings in cases of for-Profit Law and UNDP. trainings crimes committed during In addition, 31 working the Maidan take place every meetings and a large and master week. For several years now, coordination meeting of classes journalists, human rights monitors were held during defenders, and social activists the Human Rights non-Con- have been trying to attend ference 2019 to coordinate all the hearings to control the work of the network. the process. However, their Over 100 monitorings of efforts are often not enough peaceful assemblies and and only a few come to court court trials were conducted, 100 hearings which have been including 34 peaceful observations in the focus of attention of assemblies, 14 court trials in the whole world. The aim different high-profile cases. of peaceful of the campaign was to assemblies draw attention to the court
KYIVPRIDE EQUALITY MARCH 2019
KyivPride Equality March 2019 is the longest monitoring in the field that took 18 hours. On June 23, 2019, 8 moni- tors carried out observations at the March, along the whole route of the assembly and counter- assemblies. 40 monitors took part in the coordination and conduct of the monitoring.
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hearings in these cases and to encourage the public not to be passive consumers of information from the news, but to ensure public control over the compliance with the right to a fair trial.
COURTS MONITORING INITIATIVE
On April 19, 50 volunteers checked the inclusiveness of 10 courts of general jurisdiction in Kyiv under the campaign called “Let’s Check the Courts for Accessibility”. After the training conducted by universal design experts, groups of action participants went to different courts of Kyiv to independently identify violations and opportunities for improvements in the context of accessibility of the court infrastructure for people with limited mobility. The action was or- Kyiv Friendly to Parents IMPACT ON AUTHORITY ganised by OZON Public and Children initiative also Civic Monitors (Center for expressed solidarity with As part of its activities, the Civil Liberties) with the the action. Based on the group prepared and issued: support of Otsium Library, results of the check, experts experts from the Inclusive prepared a report with • 28 requests for access Country Association, and recommendations on how to to public information ORFO Universal Design. improve the infrastructure, People with limited taking into account the • 10 applications to mobility, people who use unfavorable context: most the authorities wheelchairs, and visually of the courts are located impaired activists joined in old buildings which → 6 of which concerned the action as well. During have never been designed the initiation of internal the check in Pecherskyi and as inclusive and require investigations Podilskyi courts, everyone major repairs; and a joint had an opportunity to to round table was held with → 1 case was transferred get into the building using representatives of the State to the State Bureau a wheelchair. Parents of the Judicial Administration. of Investigation
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During the monitoring leg. The video shows that the In 2019, we significantly of events after Kharkiv detainee does not resist lying increased the information Pride March on September and covering his head with coverage of our activities. 15, our observers recorded his hands, which indicates We organised and con- a case of the illegal use of abuse of authority by the ducted 6 press briefings force by a police officer. law enforcement officer. and interviews, and our Detaining a person at Facebook page increased 15 Rymarska Street, together • 5 meetings with represen- its reach by over 1,000 %. with other law enforcement tatives of the authorities officers, the police officer without proper identification, • 1 round table as seen on the videotape, stepped on the leg of the detainee, and kicked the latter on the knee with his other
1000% Facebook page reach increased by
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3.5. Euromaidan SOS
n 2019, our Euromaidan SOS of crimes against protesters at initiative worked in two Maidan, as well as the holding I main areas: requirements of a traditional Volunteer for the effective investigation Award.
HISTORY’S LARGEST EUROMAIDAN SOS VOLUNTEER AWARDS
The awards presented at was created as a response together volunteers from a ceremony held annually to the violent crackdown all over the country to say by the Center of the Civil of a peaceful student “thank you” to those people, by Liberties on November demonstration on Maidan courtesy of whom the country 30 in Kyiv. This date has Nezalezhnosti. It is on this withstood in difficult times, a symbolic meaning, because day that the initiative of the and by courtesy of whom the on November 30, 2013 the Center for Civil Liberties, problems which seemed to be Euromaidan SOS initiative Euromaidan SOS, brought insolvable are now resolved.
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The sixth ceremony was at- The jury consisted of the tended by 123 nominees who following prominent people: are volunteers from different • Andrii Kurkov — cities of Ukraine. The nom- Ukrainian writer, inations include “Support scriptwriter, President for the Ukrainian military”, of PEN Ukraine. “Support for vulnerable groups”, “Animal rights”, • Yaroslav Hrytsak — “Donation” and many others. Ukrainian scientist, Each nominee was awarded historian and publicist. a diploma and branded gifts. The expert jury selected • Rymma Ziubina — two laureates this year. They Ukrainian actress, TV were Kateryna Pryimak, the presenter, public activist paramedic of “Hospitallers”, who saved the lives of • Iryna Dovhan — Ukrainian soldiers, and Vitalii Andriiets, volunteer, resident of who founded the workshop Yasynuvata, who was tor- of Ukraine, the winner of “Mudryi Teslia” (Wise Car- tured by the DPR for her the Volunteer Award 2018. penter), where he teaches pro- Ukrainian position. In the craft to children who March 2016, she received Oleksandr Fozzy Sydoren- grow up without a father. It a non- governmental • ko — vocalist in the Tanok should be noted that Vitalii award, the People’s Hero na Maidani Kongo group. is displaced from Luhansk. • Mariia Fronoshchuk — co-founder and director of Platfor.ma. 123nominees
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MAIDAN CASES
2019 may become decisive in the investigation of the so-called “Maidan Cases”, crimes against protesters during the Revolution of Dignity. Over all these years, the Euromaidan SOS initiative has repeatedly criticised the ineffective investigation and made concrete proposals to resolve the situation. However, autumn 2019 almost put the Maidan Cases at risk of complete collapse. Due to the reforms of the Prosecutor General’s Office, the investigation of cases was to be transferred from the Special Investigation Department of the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine to the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI). However, as experts note, the SBI
38 ANNUAL REPORT 2019 3. COALITIONS AND INITIATIVES OF THE CCL
had neither appropriate the collapse of Maidan Cases, relatives of the deceased department, nor investigators several well-known activists Heroes of the Heavenly to handle these cases. Those and lawyers went on a hunger Hundred, lawyers, human investigators who had been strike, among them the lawyer rights defenders, and active working with materials for of the Heavenly Hundred citizens. We handed over our many years should transfer families Yevheniia Zakrevska. demands to the representative cases to the “emptiness”. From the very beginning, of the Presidential Office. According to the experts, the Euromaidan SOS initiative In early December the investigation could have released several joint state- 2019, the Verkhovna Rada stopped completely for at ments against the collapse voted for amendments to least six months, which of the Maidan Cases and also the law that could save the would have led to the collapse made specific proposals to investigation. However, there of the investigation. This rescue the investigation. In is still a big threat to the situation received a very early November, we held effective investigation, which strong reaction in Ukrainian a large action near the Presi- means that we will continue society. In protest against dential Office which gathered working in this direction.
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4. PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND CERTAIN VULNERABLE GROUPS
ver the year, we actively participated O in the protection of rights and freedoms of various groups of people, from the LGBT to political refugees. We held events on women’s rights and defended Crimean Tatars. In addition, we conducted a range of activities in two main categories:
FREEDOM OF RELIGION
In 2019, we created a new platform in the form of roundtables with dozens of representatives of different confessions, which became territories of Donbas after each roundtable, its near the most effective and Crimea to assisting participants would agree of our new initiatives. the Kremlin prisoners that Ukraine lacked such The agenda included by religious missions. a platform for discussion different issues: from the We are only beginning to work of topical issues in the protection of religious in this direction, however, field of freedom of religion minorities in the occupied one thing is for sure now: and religious rights.
40 ANNUAL REPORT 2019 4. PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND CERTAIN VULNERABLE GROUPS
coalition which includes dozens of other non- gov- ernmental and human rights organisations. This also shows that the problem of the persecution of civil society is still topical. Only a few months ago Cherkasy journalist Vadym Komarov died in hospital without regaining consciousness. An unknown man hit him three times on the head with a blunt metal instrument, probably PERSECUTION OF CIVIL develop effective monitoring a hammer. The theory of SOCIETY IN 2019 and investigation of these at- robbery was not confirmed tacks. In 2019, we created and as no valuables were missing. The tragic death of Katery- presented an interactive map The interactive map na Handziuk who was doused of attacks. So far, it is working is the first online tool in with acid has drawn attention in a test mode, but even now Ukraine that allows tracking to the persecution of civil you can look at specific cases the response of state society. The list of victims throughout the country and authorities and assessing compiled by her friends and see how law enforcement the effectiveness of inves- lawyers even at the time agencies and public activists tigation in these cases. included 55 attacks on human themselves assess their rights defenders, lawyers, state of investigation. environmentalists, journalists, In addition, CCL continues corruption exposers, etc. to be actively involved in Since the beginning of the civil society protection this year, the Center for Civil Liberties has recorded over 70 cases of different forms of pressure on and persecution of civil society representatives throughout the country. These figures show not so much an increase in the number of attacks as the fact the tragic death of Kateryna Handziuk has forced human rights organisations to begin systematic work to monitor and record these attacks for the first time. The Center for Civil Liber- ties systematically works to protect civil society and to
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5. HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION AND ENLIGHTENMENT
ince its establishment, our Center has been regularly engaged in educational and awareness- S raising activities and this area has always been one of the most important for us.
KYIV SCHOOL OF HUMAN RIGHTS
The Kyiv School of Human Rights and Democracy is a free educational platform of the Center for Civil Liberties. We regularly hold educational events in Kyiv and other cities. Within the school, we organise lectures, film screenings, round tables, and courses. The school is a great
opportunity to volunteer Among those documentaries for one of the initiatives there were Srebrenica, See of the Center for Civil You in Chechnya, Rwanda, Liberties, to begin human Reconciliation, Birth and rights activities, and to learn Elections. We invited experts more about human rights. in the relevant topics for In 2019 we held over a discussion: Max Levin, 54 different events under documentary photographer; the brand name of the Kyiv Iryna Yakovleva, communi- 54 School of Human Rights. 15 of cations specialist in the UN them were film screenings Human Rights Monitoring different where we showed documen- Mission; Olena Rozvadovska, events tary films on human rights. volunteer, activist who works
42 ANNUAL REPORT 2019 5. LEGAL EDUCATION AND ENLIGHTENMENT
with children in the gray zone in Donbas; Noema Krotas, the UN expert, and others. We hold monthly Human Rights Introductive Courses. Our events were attended by about 1,500 people, among whom there were pupils, students, human right de- fenders, and ordinary citizens. Over 110,000 people watched our events online and 4,000 subscribed to our regular human rights events digest.
110,000 people watched our events online
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SEPARATE EVENTS
Last year, we actively participated in various festivals. Beginning with a music concert on the Independence Day of Ukraine organised by our partners from the Crimean House where we introduced our platform for writing letters to the Kremlin prisoners, and ending with participation in Zaxidfest and Atlas Weekend music festivals. This was perhaps the first time we tried to hold human rights platforms at entertainment events and received positive feedback. These festivals are usually well attended and the informal atmosphere facilitates the activities ranging from human rights quizzes to letter-writing marathons.
44 ANNUAL REPORT 2019
6. INTERNATIONAL ADVOCACY
ystematic work to Russian Federation and the districts of Donetsk and inform and influence international community. Luhansk regions (SDDLR). S the decisions of such The key issues on which institutions as the Council we have been working over The first large-scale release of Europe bodies, including the past year are as follows: of 11 political prisoners and the European Court of 24 war prisoners (sailors) this Human Rights and PACE, • Introduction of the human September obviously stole the the OSCE, the UN, the rights context into the so- spotlight. Thanks to the will- European Parliament, and the called “Minsk Process”; ingness of former prisoners to International Criminal Court participate in further advocacy is the goal of our international • Bringing Ukrainian for the release of their fellow advocacy carried out in 2019. legislation in line prisoners, beginning from It is important for us to use with International September 10 - the date of all the instruments provided Humanitarian Law; the first press conference of by these international Oleg Sentsov and Oleksandr institutions to address human • Release of 87 political Kolchenko, in cooperation with rights violations both in prisoners held in prisons the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the occupied and govern- in the Crimea and the and various partners such as ment-controlled territories. Russian Federation, as the Open Dialogue Foundation In addition, it is the fruitful well as over 200 prisoners and Ukrainian diaspora, we cooperation with these units held in illegal detention were able to organise high- lev- that has served all year long as facilities in the separate el advocacy meetings in more an occasion for active inter- action with national human rights organisations and such international associations of 35 political prisoners human rights defenders as FIDH, NGO ICC Coalition, Civic were released in September Solidarity Platform, Front Line Defenders and others. and 76 prisoners As a result of this work, in December 2019 repeatedly adopted resolu- tions and recommendations were addressed to the Government of Ukraine, the
45 WWW.CCL.ORG.UA
than 10 European countries: Great Britain, France, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Spain, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Slovakia, Czech Republic. Plans for the beginning of next year include the USA, Canada and the Scandinavian countries. A number of meetings of Oleg Sentsov and Oleksandra Romantsova at the Council of Europe were separate events: one with the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, PACE President, and the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, as well as another separate meeting with the President of France Emmanuel Macron. In addition, it should be its President as part of the with Ukrainian political noted that out organization awarding Oleg Sentsov with A. prisoners in Russia, Crimea held the meetings with D. Sakharov Prize for Free- and SDDLR within the annual all political forces of the dom of Thought, as well as meeting of the OSCE Minis- European Parliament and a side event on the situation terial Council in Bratislava.
46 ANNUAL REPORT 2019
7. INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY
olidarity is not just an important area, but also S one of the values of our organisation. Over the year, we focused on human rights violations in the OSCE region countries, in particular the protests and crackdowns in Russia and Hong Kong. Oleksandra Matviichuk, the Chairperson of our organisation, spoke out against political repression in Kazakhstan by taking part in the support action on Maidan organised by the citizens of Kazakhstan. In 2019, we repeatedly ex- pressed support for citizens of other countries who are persecuted for political rea- sons. Thus, we held a protest demonstration at the Russian embassy after the arrest of Russian activist Kostantyn against the war with Ukraine unspeakably massive and the Kotov who is known for in 2014 and has been under counteraction of the Chinese his pro-Ukrainian views arrest for more than two authorities became truly and actions in support of years now. We expressed appalling. Ukraine knows Ukrainian political prisoners solidarity with the Moscow first-hand what the struggle and the territorial integrity of activist Mark Halperin for own independence against Ukraine. In addition, we drew known for his pro-Ukrainian the authoritarian regime is, attention to the case of Rus- actions in Russia who was which is why our Euromaidan sian activist Sergey Ryzhov, arrested this autumn. SOS initiative launched an who was one of the organisers In autumn 2019, protests online action in support of the of the Peace March in Saratov in Hong Kong turned protesters in Hong Kong. In
47 WWW.CCL.ORG.UA
addition, we held a large rally near the Embassy of the Peo- ple’s Republic of China in Kyiv. Over the year, we closely monitored the observance of the rights of foreign citizens in Ukraine, including those who were forced to leave their homeland due to political or other persecution. Unfortu- nately, we acknowledge the unpreparedness and un- willingness of the Ukrainian authorities and migration services to fulfil their obli- gations under international agreements on refugees. However, our organisation provides targeted assistance to several politically perse- cuted activists who are forced to seek asylum in Ukraine. We also support Ukrainian human rights organisations that have taken the initiative to reform the migration procedure in terms of pro- tection of foreign citizens against political persecution.
48 ANNUAL REPORT 2019 7. INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY
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8. ACHIEVEMENTS
• Last year we enjoyed several years of active • At the end of the year, many achievements, campaigning in 2019, we the Ministry of Justice intermediate and final are as close as possible supported and registered victories. Thus, at the very to passing this law. in the Verkhovna Rada the beginning of the year, we law on jury trial, which received the award from • In 2019, the Chairman of was developed by our the MP Iryna Suslova. the Center Oleksandra experts as well. We have Matviichuk got into been conducting aware- top-hundred of the ness campaign on this law most influential women for several years. The law of Ukraine thanks to her on jury trial is likely to be advocacy and public work. adopted in the near future. “Last year she initiated the global action #Save- • The internship pro- OlegSentsov, which was gramme at the Center supported by thousands for Civil Liberties was in of active people around great demand in 2019: the world. The Chair- over 20 interns from man of the Center for 7 countries participated Civil Liberties and the in the summer internship. like-minded simultane- We continue our ongoing ously launched activities cooperation on internship • On the first day of in 40 capitals to protect with the University of summer, June 1, 2019, the the Ukrainians who were Paris, and this year we Verkhovna Rada voted found to be in Russian started accepting interns for the adoption of our prisons,” Focus notes. from Stanford University. law on war criminals in the first reading. • Annual major events, Eu- • In December 2019, our ini- Unfortunately, because romaidan SOS Volunteer tiative #SaveOlegSentsov of the early elections Award, and the Human received an award for of the Parliament, the Rights Non-Conference the best mobilisation procedure for adopting became the most campaign from the the law was complicated, massive in the history of Pirania Private PR Club of and in December 2019, their implementation. In civil society organisations. our law was re-registered 2019, regular educational The award was presented in the Verkhovna Rada events at the Kyiv School during the Civil Society of the new convocation. of Human Rights and Development Forum to our In any case, we can Democracy were attended volunteers who directly par- say for sure that after by over 1,000 participants. ticipated in the campaign.
50 ANNUAL REPORT 2019 8. ACHIEVEMENTS
• By the sixth year of our active campaign for the release of Kremlin prison- ers, the exchange process was finally unblocked which could not happen without constant pressure from the civil society as well as international advocacy at a high political level, in which the Center for Civil Liberties took part not only as a human rights organisation but also as a coordinator of an international network.
• Last year we launched Ukraine’s first online tool for public control over the investigations of attacks and other forms of persecution of public activists.
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Oleksandra Romantsova 9. CCL
Executive Director aleksandra.romantsova @gmail.com TEAM ²
Maryna Liubov Lilichenko Halan Lawyer Project Coordinator [email protected] [email protected] ² ²
Serhii Liubov Zaichenko Honcharova Accountant Communication Manager [email protected] [email protected] ² ²
Daria Tetiana Bychkova Kozachok Project Coordinator, Financial Manager Event Manager [email protected] [email protected] ²
52 ANNUAL REPORT 2019 9. CCL TEAM
COMPOSITION OF THE BOARD
Oleksandra Matviichuk
Chairman of the Board [email protected] ²
Alisa Kseniia Malytska Shymanska member of the Board member of the Board [email protected] [email protected] ² ²
Iryna Nazarii Dumych Boiarskyi
member of the Board member of the Board [email protected] [email protected] ² ²
53 WWW.CCL.ORG.UA
SUPERVISORY BOARD
Tetiana Svitlana Mazur Astrakhantseva External advisor Member of the Board on organisational of the International development of Helsinki Group and public organisations. the International Member of the Board Helsinki Association of the Legal Initiative Project and KyivPride Non-governmental Organisation. Andrii Oleh Yurov Martynenko
Famous international Head of the analytical human rights activist, direction of the Ukrainian social philosopher, Helsinki Human Rights expert of the Moscow Union. Director of Public Helsinki Group. Member Association «Center for of the Council of the Law Enforcement Studies». International Public Habilitation degree in Initiative for the OSCE. law, criminologist. Academic Director of the International School for Human Rights and Civil Action. .
Mariia Larysa Kravchuk Denysenko
Director General at Lawyer, human rights Polimentor – digital activist, writer. Member advertising and of the Board and host of contact-centre. Hromadske Radio. UNDP Messenger of Tolerance in Ukraine. Member of the Board of the International Renaissance Foundation.
54 ANNUAL REPORT 2019
10. COMMUNICATIONS AND COOPERATION WITH MASS MEDIA
n 2019, our organisation increased the coverage of its own work in social networks and mass media. We held dozens of press conferences where we told about the results of our work. All the I Facebook pages of our initiatives received a strong boost.
REACH PER MONTH
25,000 47,000
~1,000 8,000
80,000 140,000
stable rate 45,000 per month 45,000 for a year
1,500 3,500
10,000 40,000
the beginning of the year the end of the year
In addition, over the In summer 2019, we territories unknown to the year we actively conducted launched a joint infor- general public. 15 different information events with the mation project with cases were published, and support of Hromadske Radio Radio Svoboda — #Nezabuti our Center helped find the and Hromadske Telebachennia, (Unforgotten) — a series of information thereon. Radio Svoboda, the Week publications dedicated to Magazine, and other media. hostages in the occupied
55 56
1,378,357
European Commission (Including PGA) RAUSING SIGRID TRUST
2,009,514
The Sigrid Rousing Trust
2,028,650
Open Society Foundation
1,032,698
SIDA (The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency) WWW.CCL.ORG.UA of theHelsinki Foundation Movement Friends 662,250
Friends of the Helsinki Movement Foundation
353,718949.327
Polish Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights
595,941
UNDP Ukraine
854,561
U.S. Department of State, USAID (including ECNL, FH, U.S. Embassy in Ukraine)
372,000
National Endowment for Democracy
2,071,103
Others (DRA, Norwegian HC, etc)
0 500,000 1,000,000 1,500,000 2,000,000 2,500,000 1,378,357
European Commission (Including PGA) RAUSING SIGRID TRUST
2,009,514
The Sigrid Rousing Trust
2,028,650
Open Society Foundation
1,032,698
SIDA (The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency) of theHelsinki Foundation Movement Friends 662,250
Friends of the Helsinki Movement Foundation
353,718949.327 11. ANNUAL REPORT 2019 Polish Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights FINANCIAL REPORT 2019 REPORT IN 2019: RECEIVED SUPPORT
595,941 All amounts are indicated in UAH
UNDP Ukraine
854,561
U.S. Department of State, USAID (including ECNL, FH, U.S. Embassy in Ukraine)
372,000
National Endowment for Democracy
2,071,103
Others (DRA, Norwegian HC, etc)
0 500,000 1,000,000 1,500,000 2,000,000 2,500,000 57 WWW.CCL.ORG.UA
EXPENSES (ALL AMOUNTS ARE INDICATED IN UAH)
Travels of employees and volunteers 518,659
Conferences, seminars and other events 2,170,780
Communication (websites, social media, mass media, video, 884,085 design, visualisation)
Fees of experts, trainers, authors, 932,106 researchers, etc.
Publications 157,843
Translations 179,111
Subgrants and human rights premiums 1,321,000
Salaries of full-time 1,853,009 employees
Taxes, social and pension 955,279 contributions
Administrative expenses (including rent, repair and 1,711,353 maintenance of premises, communications, bank, stationery and other office expenses)
Equipment 236,106
Audit 30,000
Other incidental expenses 8,973
0 500,000 1,000,000 1,500,000 2,000,000 2,500,000
58 ANNUAL REPORT 2019 11. FINANCIAL REPORT 2019
Total income 11,358,792 UAH
Balance transferred for next year 400,488 UAH
Total expenses 10,958,304 UAH
59