22/02/2022 17:02

Commissioner: shelling of the civilian population of Shchastia and critical infrastructure by the occupying country is a gross violation of international law

The hotline of the Ukrainian Parliament's Commissioner for Human Rights receives appeals from residents of the frontline town of Shchastia in Luhansk oblast about violations of their rights to life, security, access to basic human needs and services.

As a result of intensive shelling of armed formations controlled by the Russian Federation, which have been going on for the second day, transformers of Luhansk TPP are on fire, the power plant has been shut down and residential buildings have been damaged.

11,000 residents of the city are forced to hide in basements, left without heat, water and electricity.

People complain that they cannot buy food during the week because the shops are closed and banks and ATMs are closed.

"The shelling of civilians and critical infrastructure by the occupying country is a gross violation of international law, the Geneva Convention on the Rules of War and the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms," said Lyudmila Denisova.

The Commissioner appeals to local authorities to save lives, to consider the evacuation of residents.

The Ombudsman asks the international community to respond to the violation of a fundamental right to the right to life and to increase pressure on the Russian Federation to end the neglect of human rights in Ukraine.