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Press Release

Ukraine Must Reform Police Ahead of Euro 2012, Says Amnesty International

Ukraine must urgently reform its police force ahead of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Euro 2012 finals, Amnesty International warned today. As teams reflect on the results of today’s draw, the organization expressed concern over the safety of fans coming into contact with Ukraine's notoriously corrupt police.

December 2, 2011

Sheet of paper Report

Ukraine must act to deal with endemic police criminality

Human rights abuses are practised systematically by the police in Ukraine, despite increasing efforts to combat the problem and growing public outrage. Institutional failings and high levels of corruption in the Ministry of Internal Affairs mean that people who come into contact with the police are at risk of a wide range of abuses, from verbal attacks to torture. Investigations into these events are often delayed, ineffective and biased, which only encourages the police in a culture of impunity. The government must commit to comprehensively reforming the system for overseeing the police.

October 11, 2011

Press Release

‘Justice Not Done’ in Ukrainian Student Death Investigation, Says Amnesty International

Contact: AIUSA media relations, 202-509-8194 (Washington, D.C.) - An investigation into the death in custody of a Ukrainian student is seriously flawed, Amnesty International said, after a court effectively cleared two officers of responsibility for his death. Ihor Indilo, 19, died from a fractured skull and internal bleeding on May 17, 2010, after being arrested and interrogated by two police officers in Kyiv. An autopsy revealed his injuries were caused by "contact with a blunt object;" police say these occurred when he fell off a small bench. Judges in Kyiv's court of appeal yesterday took 15 minutes to conclude that…

August 18, 2011

Sheet of paper Report

Annual Report: Ukraine 2011

Head of state: Viktor Yanukovich (replaced Viktor Yushchenko in February) Head of government: Mykola Azarov (replaced Yuliya Timoshenko in March) Death penalty: abolitionist in practice Population: 45.4 million Life expectancy: 68.6 years Under-5 mortality (m/f): 18/13 per 1,000 Adult literacy: 99.7 per cent   There were reports of torture and other ill-treatment in prisons and police custody. Prisoners and criminal suspects received inadequate medical care. Human rights defenders were physically attacked and faced harassment from law enforcement officers. Refugees and asylum-seekers were threatened with forcible return and other human rights violations. Police discriminated against ethnic minorities and peaceful demonstrators were…

June 20, 2011

Press Release

Afghan Citizens Beaten in Detention at Ukraine Airport, Says Amnesty International

Amnesty International Media ReleaseFor Immediate ReleaseWednesday, March 16, 2011Afghan Citizens Beaten in Detention at Ukraine Airport, Says Amnesty International Contact: AIUSA media relations office, 202-509-8194(Washington, D.C.) Amnesty International has condemned the mistreatment of eight Afghan citizens awaiting deportation from Ukraine, who are being beaten by border guards and denied adequate food, water and medical treatment. The eight men have been in detention at Boryspil Airport in Kyiv for three days and sources have told Amnesty International that, as a result of the ill-treatment, some of them are so severely injured that they are unable to lie down.   “The Ukrainian authorities…

March 27, 2011

Press Release

Afghan Citizens Beaten in Detention at Ukraine Airport, Says Amnesty International

Amnesty International Media ReleaseFor Immediate ReleaseWednesday, March 16, 2011Afghan Citizens Beaten in Detention at Ukraine Airport, Says Amnesty International Contact: AIUSA media relations office, 202-509-8194(Washington, D.C.) Amnesty International has condemned the mistreatment of eight Afghan citizens awaiting deportation from Ukraine, who are being beaten by border guards and denied adequate food, water and medical treatment. The eight men have been in detention at Boryspil Airport in Kyiv for three days and sources have told Amnesty International that, as a result of the ill-treatment, some of them are so severely injured that they are unable to lie down.   “The Ukrainian authorities…

March 27, 2011

Sheet of paper Report

Annual Report: Ukraine 2010

Head of state Viktor Yushchenko Head of government Yuliya Timoshenko Death penalty abolitionist for all crimes Population 45.7 million Life expectancy 68.2 years Under-5 mortality (m/f) 18/13 per 1,000 Adult literacy 99.7 per cent Refugees and asylum-seekers were at risk of forcible return. People detained pending extradition had no possibility to challenge the legality of extradition and detention. The authorities failed to respond adequately to racist attacks. Reports of torture and illtreatment in police detention continued, and perpetrators of human rights violations enjoyed impunity. Freedom of assembly continued to be under threat. Rights of refugees and asylum-seekers Ukraine continued to…

March 19, 2011