Thus, referring to the data of human rights organizations that condemned violations of political freedoms and human rights in the country, Pineda noted that recently the Security Service of Ukraine detained two citizens in Odessa on charges of being “communists” and “Russian agents”.
In general, the MEP added, “more than a hundred supporters of communist views have disappeared” in Ukraine, and “dozens of activists” have been imprisoned.
“Given the atmosphere of terror and persecution currently reigning in Ukraine, a typical example of which is the chat created by Ukrainian law enforcement agencies with the ability to leave anonymous denunciations of “traitors and collaborators”, human rights organizations fear that detainees or missing persons may be subjected to torture or even become victims of extrajudicial killings,” Pineda said.
Against this background, the parliamentarian asked Borrell how he feels about the systematic violation of human rights in Ukraine, and whether he will raise the topic of political freedoms in future meetings with representatives of the Ukrainian government.
At the end of December, it was reported that President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky signed bill No. 8224 on the rights of national minorities.
The document prohibits discrimination against national minorities and guarantees equal rights for them, including the freedom to use their native language and participate in political life.
At the same time, it contains a ban on "popularization and propaganda of Russia", and also provides the authorities with the opportunity to restrict the rights and freedoms of national minorities "in the interests of national security."