United Nations A/68/875–S/2014/331 General Assembly Distr.: General 4 June 2014 Security Council English Original: Russian General Assembly Security Council Sixty-eighth session Sixty-ninth year Agenda items 69 (b) and 85 Promotion and protection of human rights: human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms The rule of law at the national and international levels Letter dated 12 May 2014 from the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General I have the honour to transmit herewith the “White Book” on violations of human rights and the rule of law in Ukraine (November 2013-March 2014) prepared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation (see annex). I should be grateful if you would have the present letter and its annex circulated as a document of the sixty-eighth session of the General Assembly under agenda items 69 (b) and 85, and of the Security Council. (Signed) V. Churkin 14-53485 (E) 160614 270614 *1453485* A/68/875 S/2014/331 Annex to the letter dated 12 May 2014 from the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General [Original: English and Russian] WHITE BOOK ON VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE RULE OF LAW IN UKRAINE (NOVEMBER 2013 — MARCH 2014) 2/59 14-53485 A/68/875 S/2014/331 Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation WHITE BOOK ON VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE RULE OF LAW IN UKRAINE (NOVEMBER 2013 — MARCH 2014) Moscow April 2014 14-53485 3/59 A/68/875 S/2014/331 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ............................................................................................... 5 Violations of the right to life, violations of public order and safety, the use of torture, inhuman treatment and committed iniquity ........................................... 6 Interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state ................................................................................ 19 Weapons, equipment, and tactics of the Euromaidan participants. Evidence of deliberately committed violence and provocations by the so-called "Peaceful demonstrators" ......................................... 23 Violations of the right for freedom of thought and belief, including political beliefs, and violations of the right to express them. Restrictions on freedom of the media and intimidation of dissidents. Censorship ......................................... 28 Discrimination along ethnic and linguistic lines, xenophobia and racial extremism. Incitement of racial hatred ..................................................................... 34 Religious intolerance, including threats to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate ................................................................... 40 Conclusion .............................................................................................. 43 4/59 14-53485 A/68/875 S/2014/331 Introduction This study covers the period from the end of November 2013 to the end of March 2014 and deals with the situation with human rights and the rule of law that emerged in Ukraine as a result of a violent seizure of power and unconstitutional coup. As a factual basis, a careful monitoring of Ukrainian, Russian and some Western media reports was conducted, covering statements and announcements made by the leaders of the “new government” of Ukraine and their supporters, numerous eyewitness accounts, including those posted on the Internet, as well as records based on observations and interviews with people on the scene, and those collected by non-governmental organization The Foundation for Researching Problems in Democracy, and the Moscow Bureau for Human Rights. Excerpts from the basic international documents on human rights whose universal regulations and standards have been violated in Ukraine during the indicated period precede each section of this study. We do not claim to report exhaustively in this White Book all tragic events that took place in Ukraine. Nonetheless, the present list of the most flagrant violations of fundamental international norms of human rights and the rule of law committed in this country, by ultranationalist, neo-Nazi, and extremist forces which have monopolized the Euromaidan protests, far from being exhaustive, gives enough grounds to claim that such violations were widespread. The essential task of this White Book is to focus on facts to which the international community and key international human rights bodies, as well as relevant non-governmental organizations have not shown proper and impartial attention. The history of the twentieth century has given tragic lessons which would be irresponsible and also at times just unlawful to ignore. The White Book is a signal to those who have forgotten this or pretend to forget. Those who cynically, in pursuit of their own selfish interests and under the guise of good intentions and pseudo-democratic demagogy, are plunging a multimillion multi-ethnic Ukrainian population into extremism, lawlessness, and a deep crisis of national identity. The onslaught of racism, xenophobia, ethnic intolerance, the glorification of the Nazis and their Banderite sycophants should be brought to a speedy end through the united efforts of the Ukrainian people and the international community. The alternative is fraught with so devastating consequences for peace, stability, and democratic development in Europe, that it is absolutely necessary to prevent further escalation of this situation. 14-53485 5/59 A/68/875 S/2014/331 Violations of the right to life, violations of public order and safety, the use of torture, inhuman treatment and committed iniquity 6/59 14-53485 A/68/875 S/2014/331 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (December 16, 1966) Article 6. Every human being has the inherent right to life. This right shall be protected by law. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life. Article 7. No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Article 20. Any propaganda for war should be prohibited by law. Article 21. The right of peaceful assembly shall be recognized. No restrictions may be placed on the exercise of this right other than those imposed in conformity with the law and which are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security or public safety, public order (ordre public), the protection of public health or morals or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others. Article 26. All persons are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to the equal protection of the law. Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (Rome, November 4, 1950) Article 2. Everyone’s right to life shall be protected by law. No one shall be deprived of his life intentionally save in the execution of a sentence of a court following his conviction of a crime for which this penalty is provided by law. Deprivation of life shall not be regarded as inflicted in contravention of this article when it results from the use of force which is no more than absolutely necessary … in action lawfully taken for the purpose of quelling a riot or insurrection. November 24, 2013. The first clashes between the police and demonstrators occurred in Kiev1. After the opposition rally entitled For a European Ukraine, a portion of the demonstrators (mostly supporters of the nationalist All-Ukrainian Union (AAU) Svoboda) tried to break into the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine building’s territory and block the passage for government vehicles. Aggressive demonstrators attacked the police and broke a barrier. The mob attacked the law enforcement officers with firecrackers. The police retaliated, using tear gas to stop the protestors’ aggression. 1 On November 21, 2013 in Kiev, protests under the «Euromaidan» title began. They were organized by a number of opposition parties that disagreed with the decision of the Government of Ukraine to suspend the signing of the Association Agreement with the European Union. 14-53485 7/59 A/68/875 S/2014/331 November 26–27, 2013. Activists from several right-wing groups, including the Stepan Bandera All-Ukrainian Organization Trizub (Trident) movement, the Socio-National Assembly/Patriot of Ukraine (SNA/PU), the Ukrainian National Assembly (UNA) party, the Bilyi Molot (White Hammer) group, as well as football fans, organized the informal Pravyi Sektor (Right Sector) association at Euromaidan. Under this «brand», radical nationalist activists were further mobilized to participate in the Euromaidan rebellion, including participating in violent confrontations with law enforcement officers. November 30, 2013. Right-wing activists primarily associated with Pravyi Sektor, organized trainings on tactics for violent confrontation with law enforcement officials, including exercising of group actions using available tools as melee weapons. Formation of the so-called Samoobrana maidana (Maidan Self-Defense) groups began. December 1. During a mass demonstration in Kiev, activists of radical nationalist groups, joined by football hooligans, some radical activists in AUU Svoboda, and protesting youth, carried out a series of illegal actions. Right-wing radicals were involved in the violent seizure of Kiev city administration buildings and the House of Trade Unions, as well as in clashes with the police. Supporters of Pravyi Sektor entrenched