Ukraine, US Must Ensure Protection of Odessa Memorial Demonstrators

The city of Odessa and the governments of Ukraine and the United States must protect the civil rights of demonstrators and monitors attending a May 2 memorial for the victims of the 2014 Trade Union Building fire, United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC) Co-Coordinator Joe Lombardo told Sputnik.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — On Monday, UNAC delivered a petition to the Ukrainian embassy in Washington, DC supporting the planned demonstration and calling for the UN Human Rights Council to investigate the murders of pro-democracy activists in Odessa.

"We understand the embassy is not going to like the petition, but we think the best way to keep everyone safe [at the May 2 memorial demonstration in Odessa] and allow them to exercise their democratic rights is to shed light on it," Lombardo said on Monday.

UNAC called on the United States and Ukraine to ensure the protection of demonstrators after fascist groups in Odessa publicly declared they will not allow the memorial to take place. The organization explained that right-wing groups regularly target similar demonstrations.

On May 2, 2014, pro-Kiev demonstrators blocked anti-government protesters in Odessa's House of Trade Unions and set the building on fire by hurling Molotov cocktails inside. Forty-eight people died in the incident and more than 250 were injured.

UNAC will send a delegation of US human rights activists to Odessa to observe the memorial. Lombardo added that the group has been told that Ukrainian security forces will provide protection for the pro-democracy demonstrators.

Earlier in April, the US State Department said in its annual human rights report that Ukrainian government’s failure to investigate the Odessa deaths and other abuses has fostered a climate of impunity in the country.