UN: Ukraine's Human Rights Situation Is 'Alarming'

Two women embrace in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk on May 5, 2014.

Image: Burak Akbulut/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

By Brian Ries2014-05-16 16:01:54 UTC

United Nations officials say the human rights situation in eastern Ukraine is worsening.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay released a report on Friday that details an "alarming deterioration in the human rights situation in the east of the country," and identifies a list of problems that are emerging in Russia-occupied Crimea.

The report, which was compiled from a team of 34 monitors operating in the country covering April 2 through May 6 2014, cites "a breakdown in law and order and a climate of intimidation and harassment," due to the groups of armed separatists that are occupying government buildings across many cities in eastern Ukraine.

Masked pro-Russian gunmen attack photojournalist for the Russian newspaper "Kommersant" Ilya Pitalyov near combat vehicles in downtown of Sloviansk on Wednesday, April 16, 2014.

Image: Efrem Lukatsky/Associated Press

"Leaders and members of these armed groups commit an increasing number of human rights abuses, such as abductions, harassment, unlawful detentions, in particular of journalists," the report states, noting that freedom of expression "is under particular attack."

At least 23 journalists have been abducted and unlawfully detained in the country, it says, noting most of the abductions occurred in Slovyansk the city where Vice reporter Simon Ostrovsky was capturedf or a week in April and, upon his release, told of others that were being held in a damp basement there.

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UN: Ukraine's Human Rights Situation Is 'Alarming'