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Ukraine crisis: Amnesty deplores abuses by both sides | Ukraine crisis: Amnesty deplores abuses by both sides |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Human rights group Amnesty International says there is evidence of atrocities committed by both warring sides in eastern Ukraine, but not on the scale reported by Russia. | Human rights group Amnesty International says there is evidence of atrocities committed by both warring sides in eastern Ukraine, but not on the scale reported by Russia. |
It said "strong evidence" implicated government forces in the killing of four men near rebel-held Donetsk. | |
When the bodies were discovered Russian media spoke of "mass graves" there. | When the bodies were discovered Russian media spoke of "mass graves" there. |
Meanwhile a huge blast has rocked part of Donetsk, as clashes continue despite a truce agreed on 5 September. | |
The shockwave from a powerful explosion damaged the Donbass Arena stadium on Monday. It was a venue for Euro 2012 football matches. | |
Reports say it happened near a munitions factory on the outskirts, in the same area as the airport, where fierce fighting has raged in recent weeks. No casualties have been reported. | |
A dramatic video on YouTube showed the shockwave disrupting a rebel press conference. The pro-Russian separatists allege it was caused by a "Tochka-U" missile. | |
"There is no doubt that summary killings and atrocities are being committed by both pro-Russian separatists and pro-Kyiv [Kiev] forces in eastern Ukraine, but it is difficult to get an accurate sense of the scale of these abuses," said Amnesty's Europe and Central Asia director John Dalhuisen. | "There is no doubt that summary killings and atrocities are being committed by both pro-Russian separatists and pro-Kyiv [Kiev] forces in eastern Ukraine, but it is difficult to get an accurate sense of the scale of these abuses," said Amnesty's Europe and Central Asia director John Dalhuisen. |
In a new report, Amnesty urged both sides to investigate such killings and other abuses thoroughly, because some had been "deliberately misrecorded". | |
"Some of the more shocking cases that have been reported, particularly by Russian media, have been hugely exaggerated," Mr Dalhuisen said. | "Some of the more shocking cases that have been reported, particularly by Russian media, have been hugely exaggerated," Mr Dalhuisen said. |
Summary executions | Summary executions |
The pro-Russian rebellion began in Donetsk and Luhansk in April, inspired by Russia's annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea in March. | The pro-Russian rebellion began in Donetsk and Luhansk in April, inspired by Russia's annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea in March. |
The separatists in the predominantly Russian-speaking east were enraged by the overthrow of elected pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych. | The separatists in the predominantly Russian-speaking east were enraged by the overthrow of elected pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych. |
Amnesty compiled its report based on research conducted widely in eastern Ukraine in August-September. | Amnesty compiled its report based on research conducted widely in eastern Ukraine in August-September. |
An Amnesty delegation visited the village of Nyzhnya Krynka, near Donetsk, on 26 September where four bodies - believed to be local residents - were found. | |
Amnesty says there is no doubt that Ukrainian government troops and volunteers were in control there when the victims went missing. | |
There is also evidence of summary executions by pro-Russian separatists in the region, Amnesty says, including the killing of two captives in Severodonetsk in July. | There is also evidence of summary executions by pro-Russian separatists in the region, Amnesty says, including the killing of two captives in Severodonetsk in July. |
Two bodies found in April near the town of Raigorodok, in rebel-held territory, bore signs of torture, Amnesty says. | Two bodies found in April near the town of Raigorodok, in rebel-held territory, bore signs of torture, Amnesty says. |
"Victims have included pro-Ukrainian activists and suspected sympathisers, local criminals and detained combatants," an Amnesty press release said. | "Victims have included pro-Ukrainian activists and suspected sympathisers, local criminals and detained combatants," an Amnesty press release said. |
A rebel commander quoted by Russia's RIA Novosti news agency says the separatists are now attacking Ukrainian positions near Schastye, a town in Luhansk region. | A rebel commander quoted by Russia's RIA Novosti news agency says the separatists are now attacking Ukrainian positions near Schastye, a town in Luhansk region. |
Battalion commander Alexander Bednov said the rebels had surrounded about 200 Ukrainian troops there. | Battalion commander Alexander Bednov said the rebels had surrounded about 200 Ukrainian troops there. |
Russia accuses Ukrainian forces of indiscriminately firing at civilian areas, while Kiev calls the Russian-backed rebels "terrorists" who are committing human rights abuses. | Russia accuses Ukrainian forces of indiscriminately firing at civilian areas, while Kiev calls the Russian-backed rebels "terrorists" who are committing human rights abuses. |
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