Unrest in Ukraine Erupts into Violent Protests

By Ben Kopp
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

KYIV, Ukraine – Ukraine opposition leader Yuriy Lutsenko was among several injured in protests against a recent ruling that convicted three men of plotting to blow up a statue. The protests came amidst lasting tensions from the government’s refusal to strengthen ties with the European Union.

Yuriy Lutsenko was injured during the recent protest, requiring bandages to his head, as well as a patch to his right eye. (Photo courtesy of the Los Angeles Times)

On 10 January 2014, protests erupted after a court sentenced three nationalists to six years in prison.  The convicted persons allegedly conspired to blow up a statue of Soviet Union founder Vladimir Lenin in 2011. Protesters claimed that the trial was fixed against the men.

During the night of 10 January, protesters attempted to prevent police from taking the convicted men away from the court building. In the clash with police that followed, over ten activists, three Members of Parliament, and several journalists were injured. Some received fractures, brain trauma, and unconsciousness.

“As we see, the authorities do not stop in their acts of repression, it is not enough for them to deprive us of our rights, they want to put people in jail, give them six-year prison terms, just because they were talking about their rights,” said protester Dmytro Bulatov. “And they want to break our bones.”

By early 11 January, the Ukrainian parliament’s human rights ombudsman reported that eleven protesters had been injured, with two of them hospitalized, including former Ukrainian Interior Minister and current opposition leader Yuriy Lutsenko.

Yanukovych pardoned Lutsenko in April 2013, after four years of imprisonment on charges of embezzlement and ordering illegal surveillance. Lutsenko had been a key figure in the 2004 Orange Revolution, which brought Yanukovych’s rival Yulia Tymoshenko to power.

Lutsenko was struck in the head and hospitalized in intensive care during a clash with riot police. He suffered a concussion, requiring bandages and a patch over his right eye.

“The doctors diagnosed a closed head injury, a concussion, three subcutaneous hematoma, and an open wound on the face. There was no breach of the skull, thank God,” said Lutsenko’s wife, Iryna. “He was conscious, but not the whole time. He asked for people not to take revenge, because the Berkut [riot police] just obey orders. So he is asking people not to take revenge.”

Ukrainian tensions have been elevated since President Viktor Yanukovych’s abrupt refusal to sign an association deal with the European Union in November 2013, which would have established closer ties between Ukraine and the Western bloc. Yanukovych’s decision sparked protests into December 2013, which constituted the largest Ukrainian anti-government movement since the Orange Revolution in 2004.

Lutsenko led the organization of the most recent protests, during which pro-EU demonstrators remained in central Kyiv, demanding the resignation of the government and new elections.

The Kyiv prosecutor’s office said it would investigate the actions of both protesters and police.

Leader of Svoboda Union Andriy Ilyenko said that abusive police fighters were photographed after removing their masks, and would be held accountable for their actions.

To ease tensions, Ukrainian officials must acknowledge that citizens have shifted toward an affinity for Western ties.

For further information, please see:

Independent – Ukraine Opposition Leader Yuri Lutsenko Injured in Police Clash – January 11, 2014

Interfax-Ukraine – Three MPs, Over Dozen Activists Seriously Injured in Clash with Berkut, Says Svoboda – January 11, 2014

Los Angeles Times – Ukraine Opposition Leader Injured in Clash with Police – January 11, 2014

RadioFreeEurope RadioLiberty – Former Ukrainian Minister Hospitalized in Clash with Police – January 11, 2014

Telegraph – Ukraine Opposition Leader Injured in Fresh Kiev Clashes – January 11, 2014

Former Mubarak PM Says he May Run for Egyptian Presidency

By Kathryn Maureen Ryan
Impunity Watch, Middle East

CAIRO, Egypt – Ahmed Shafik, Hosni Mubarak’s last prime minister before his 2011 ouster announced Thursday that he plans to run for the Egyptian presidency if the military does not contest elections.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/09/us-egypt-presidency-idUSBREA081I120140109
Former Mubarak PM announced he may run for Egyptian Presidency (Photo courtesy of Reuters)

“I believe now I will run for the presidency,” Shafik told the press adding that he will add his name to the ring if army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi stayed out of election, which is expected to be held later this way after a referendum vote is held for the state’s new constitution in January.

Sisi has not yet announced whether he will enter the race. He is widely supported by supporters of the military coup that took Morsi’s out of power but is reviled by the former president’s supporters.

Sisi’s candidacy would deepen divisions between supporters of the military role in the Egyptian government who believe force is to secure the state and those who believe such a government would further encourage the military to crack down on the basic rights of the Egyptian people

A security official told the press that Sisi “most likely going to announce that he will run for the presidency”, adding: “The army in a recent meeting expressed its support for him to run.”

Shafik left the country last year after being defeated by Mohamed Morsi, who was removed from power last July, in the country’s first democratic presidential elections. Shafik has a strong history with the Egyptian military, he served as a former air force commander. He called former President Mubarak a “role model” and was charged with corruption after leaving Egypt.

Last month Shafik was acquitted by an Egyptian court for a corruption case. However, another corruption charge has been shelved by the courts.

Shafik’s return to Egypt would signify the dramatic shift in power in Egyptian that has occurred since the ouster of Morsi, to many it would symbolize a return to the Egypt that existed under Mubarak.

Shafik called for maximum force to be used against former President Morsi’s political party, the Muslim Brotherhood. Shafik called the organization a “terrorist” group last December. Egypt’s interim military government has cracked down on the organization and other Islamist groups in the country, drawing criticism from human rights activist around the world.

Islamist militant groups have responded by increasing bombing and shooting attacks on Egyptian security forces since Morsi’s overthrow, raising fears of prolonged instability in the country.

While speaking in the United Arab Emirates Shafik stated that he may return to Egypt to vote in the Constitutional referendum. The Constitutional referendum is set for January 14 and 15.

Dates for this year’s presidential and parliamentary elections have yet to be set.

For more information please see:

Daily News and Analysis – Hosni Mubarak’s last PM interested in running for Egyptian presidency – 10 January 2014

Al Jazeera – Mubarak PM considers bid for Egypt presidency – 9 January 2014

Reuters – Mubarak’s last PM interested in running for Egyptian presidency – 9 January 2014

Reuters – Egypt’s army chief Sisi seen edging closer to presidential bid – 6 January 2014

Iran Resumes Nuclear Talks in Geneva

By Darrin Simmons
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TEHRAN, Iran-As the world powers are set to resume meeting in Geneva, nuclear talks with Iran are resuming.  Discussions center on activating a landmark deal to reign in Tehran’s nuclear program.

Nuclear talks in Geneva (Photo courtesy of International Business Times)

“The talks will focus on remaining issues pending a political decision before the deal can go into effect on January 20, a date mooted by both sides,” said Iranian foreign ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham.

The two-day meeting began yesterday between Abbas Araqchi, Irans negotiator, and Helga Schmid, the representative of the P5+1 group of world powers.  The U.S. State Department confirmed that Wendy Sherman, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, would also be in attendance.

The last attempt at discussion occurred in mid-December involving technical experts from Iran as well as the U.S., China, Russia, Britain, France, and Germany.

Under the deal discussed, Iran will receive modest relief from international sanctions and a promise of no new measures against Iranian economy if Iran reduces parts of its nuclear drive for six months.

Mohammad Javad Zarif, the Iranian Foreign Minister, has voiced optimism regarding the regarding the talks, but observes have warned of potential delays.  The European Union, which is chairing the P5+1 group, has kept a tight lid on details surrounding the talks.

The U.S. has been the driving force in implementing the interim deal with Iran.  Western nations have long suspected the development of atomic weapons under Iran’s nuclear program; a claim that has been strongly denied by officials in Tehran.

“We have to make sure our right to research and development is respected,” stated an Iranian government official.  His claim follows alongside officials in Tehran saying that the actions related to Iran’s nuclear program are part of crucial research.

Meanwhile, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has expressed his disdain for the actions of the U.S., referring to the nation as “Satan”.  “We had announced previously that on certain issues, if we feel it is expedient, we would negotiate with the Satan (the U.S.) to deter its evil,” said Khamenei.

However, Javad Zarif, who is also the chief nuclear negotiator, said he was confident of a positive outcome from the Geneva talks.  “The nuclear talks are continuing with serious and strong political will,” stated Zarif.

For more information, please see the following: 

Al Arabiya-Iran’s Khamenei: deterring evil worth talking to Satan-09 January 2014

Al Jazeera-Iran set to resume nuclear talks in Geneva-09 January 2014

International Business Times-West Wary of Iran’s Centrifuge Research as Talks on Nuclear Deal Set to Resume-09 January 2014

Israel National News-Iran, World Powers Resume Talks on Geneva Deal-09 January 2014

SNHR: The Death Toll Increased by the Clashes Between the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant organization and Factions from Armed Oppositions

According to Syrian Network for Human Rights’ team, who have documented the death of victims from  3/1/2014 to 7/1/2014:

Seven ongoing days of clashes between different armed factions and the Islamic state of Iraq and Levant organization led to the death of at least 336 slain victims; including 76 civilians, 5 children, and 6 media activists.

Association of Russian Judges Denies Magnitsky’s Mother Public Hearing on the Role of the Russian Judiciary in her Son’s Death

Press Release
For Immediate Distribution

9 January 2014 – The Association of Russian Judges has refused a request from Sergei Magnitsky’s mother to publicly discuss the role of judges in her son’s persecution, ill-treatment and death. It said that it “cannot discuss” the matter in spite of the fact that last year its regional division had discussed the matter and issued a resolution in a closed forum secretly from  Magnitsky’s family and human rights groups.

“The Association of Russian Judges is trying to whitewash the role of the judiciary in Sergei Magnitsky’s death by refusing a public airing of the facts,”said a Hermitage Capital representative.

Last year, four Moscow judges were included in the the U.S. Government’s Magnitsky sanctions list. Each of these four Russian judges approved the detention of Sergei Magnitsky on false grounds. They refused his petitions about the unlawfulness of his arrest, about the fabrication of evidence by FSB and Interior Ministry officials, and about his ill-treatment and denial of medical care in custody. Judge Stashina extended Sergei Magnitsky’s detention and refused all his petitions on 12 November 2009, four days before his murder in police custody.

After the U.S. Government announced the inclusion of the four Moscow judges on the Magnitsky sanctions list, the Moscow judges association held a closed meeting on 22 April 2013, at which it passed a resolution “condemning” the inclusion of the four judges on the sanctions list. The resolution of the Moscow judges association was then broadcast on state TV channels and published on the Moscow City Court’s website. The resolution said that the Moscow judges association found no reason “to doubt in any way the lawfulness and fairness of the actions” of their four colleagues upon review of their “personal file”.

When Magnitsky’s mother learned of this resolution, she wrote an open letter in Novaya Gazeta Newspaper requesting a public discussion of the role of judges in her son’s ill-treatment and death. She asked the Association of Russian Judges to invite Magnitsky’s family and the human rights experts to the hearing. However, the Association of Russian Judges refused her plea on the ground that the Moscow judges association through its Presidium had already expressed their position.

“The Presidium of the Council of Judges of the City of Moscow …has deemed it necessary to condemn the inclusion of judges Ukhnaleva, Stashina, Krivoruchko and Podoprigorov in the Magnitsky list…Taking into account the nature of the stated opinion expressed by the body of the judicial community,the resolution of the Presidium of the Council of Judges of the City of Moscow cannot be a matter for review by the Council of Judges of the Russian Federation,” said Victor Faleev, chair of the Disciplinary Commission of the Russian Judges Association. Mr Faleev indicated that he acted on orders from the chair of Russian Judges Association.

“The Moscow resolution “condemning” the inclusion of four judges in the Magnitsky case on the sanctions list is fully reminiscent of the Soviet times, when professional associations unanimously condemned dissidents and any efforts of foreign governments to help them,” said a Hermitage Capital representative.

The role of judges in the unlawful arrest and detention of Magnitsky and his ill-treatment in custody was highlighted in the two independent reports published by the Moscow Oversight Commission and the Human Rights Council of the Russian President. Yet, their conclusions have been ignored by the Russian government investigation into Mr Magnitsky’s death which was closed last year by the Russian Investigative Committee for “lack of the event of crime.”

For further information, please see:

Law and Order in Russia