MOSCOW, May 20 (RIA Novosti) – An association of Russian NGOs will be set up to coordinate the legal protection of human rights in eastern Ukraine, the region hit by the Kiev regime's punitive operations, a member of the Russian President's Council for Human Rights told RIA Novosti Tuesday.
The association, called “The Right Against Fascism,” will be established by a number of non-governmental organizations, including the Aspect Political Center, the Moscow Bureau for Human Rights, the Russian Public Institute of Electoral Rights and the organization For Human Rights, Alexander Brod said.
“We hope that our foreign colleagues join us, there is an interest in this issue,” he said.
The association will involve professional attorneys and lawyers, who are to consider lawsuits, provide consultations for the victims and stand before Ukrainian and international courts.
Ukraine went through a regime change resembling a military coup on February 22. The country’s parliament ousted President Viktor Yanukovych, changed the constitution and scheduled early presidential elections for May 25.
Since March, anti-government protests have been spreading across southeastern regions of the country, where people refuse to recognize the interim government in Kiev and have called for federalization.
Ukraine’s new authorities, supported by radical ultranationalist groups, launched a special operation to crack down on the protesters in mid-April, which has already led to dozens of deaths and injuries.