Ukraine

Two more Ukrainian military officers were kidnaped in Crimea. The total of 11 people are now missing. Journalists and activists, who were previously released, report about torture they were subjected to in Russian captivity.

The Civic Solidarity Platform, a network of 60 human rights NGOs from across the OSCE region, calls for an urgent response from the international community to numerous reports of human rights violations in the Crimea region of Ukraine.

Member organisations of the Civic Solidarity Platform today called on the OSCE participating States to extend once more the visit of the group of military and civilian observers from OSCE participating states to the East and South of Ukraine.

Updates: Ukrainian authorities have begun responding to the humanitarian challenges in Crimea and are assisting citizens to depart the peninsula; several activists and Ukrainian military personnel are being held hostage in the Crimea; Separatists and the Russian military continue to storm

The situation in the Crimea has entered a new and bloody phase. A Ukrainian soldier has been killed. Violent attacks on journalists haven’t ceased.

Non-governmental organisations across the region urge the OSCE to act decisively and swiftly to stop intervention into Ukraine and prevent a major security crisis in Europe.

Civic Solidarity Platform urged Thorbjørn Jagland, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, to immediately address the authorities of Ukraine with an appeal to put end to violence and to launch an international investigation into the excessive use of force at EuroMaydan.

As the conflict in Kiev continues to unfold, Ukrainian civil society activists say negotiations and urgent reaction of the international community are vital to resolve the crisis.

The Civic Solidarity Platform, a coalition of 57 human rights organisation from across the OSCE region, expresses its deep concern about the serious clampdown on human rights and fundamental freedoms in Ukraine that is accompanied by violence.

At least 26 journalists were injured during the clashes between the police and protesters in Kiev.