WASHINGTON, May 24 (RIA Novosti) – The tragic events in Odessa on May 2 constitute grave crimes that demand a serious, impartial, and thorough investigation, stated Rachel Denber, Deputy Director of the Europe and Central Asia Division at Human Rights Watch.
“We understand that four investigations are under way, but the crucial thing is not the number of investigations but their rigor, impartiality, and effectiveness in terms of holding the perpetrators accountable,” Denber told RIA Novosti Friday. “The victims deserve nothing less.”
“The government’s tendency to absolve the pro-unity side of wrongdoing does not inspire confidence, to say the least,” she asserted. “HRW will closely follow the investigation, and we will urge the international community to closely and persistently scrutinize it.”
Earlier this month, Ukraine’s southern city of Odessa saw the bloodiest episode of violence since the start of the crisis in the country in February. A fire at the Trade Unions House that followed clashes between pro-federalization activists on one side and fans of the Odessa and Kharkiv football teams on the other claimed the lives of 48 people, with most of the victims dying of smoke inhalation or after jumping out of windows.
Six died of bullet wounds, 32 suffocated, and 10 fell to their death by jumping through the windows of the burning building. Another 214 were injured. According to some information, another 48 are reported to be missing.
No plausible explanation has been offered for the fact that many of those who died did not try to take refuge on upper floors or the roof, prompting rumors that they were poisoned by an unknown chemical.
