PRESS RELEASE

We have noted the statements by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, regarding the numerous fatalities of civilians in Donetsk and Lugansk, who were caught in the middle of the continuing operation by the Ukrainian security forces.

We share the concerns of the High Commissioner with regard to numerous fatalities of civilians, including children, in the Donetsk and Lugansk Regions as a result of the military operation by Kiev in the region.

The development of the situation in the East of Ukraine, the quickly growing number of casualties including civilians as a result of the build-up of Kiev's so-called "counter-terrorism" operation does not allow silence to be kept about the true scales of this tragedy.

The UN has finally drawn its attention to the deaths of children and to the dangerous situation they have got into as a result of actions by Ukrainian forces. We are especially concerned about the situation of orphans. Kiev's actions are a clear violation of international humanitarian law and international human rights law.

We support the request of the High Commissioner to the Ukrainian government to investigate each murder and to bring to justice all the criminals.

We support the appeal by Navi Pillay for all the parties involved to lay down weapons and to start a dialogue according to the provision of the Joint Declaration by German, Russian, Ukrainian and French Foreign Ministers of the 2 July.

5 July 2014