We see that Ukraine is still pursuing destructive policy against the background of the situation with the checkpoints that have been opened, consequently, the inaction of President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky is definitely bewildering, DPR Commissioner for Human Rights Darya Morozova commented on the current situation at the checkpoints.
“Just a month and a half ago we supported Ukraine’s initiative to open checkpoints. We expressed our position on the need to comply with all sanitary standards aimed at curbing the coronavirus infection. The crossing of checkpoints should have been measured out and coordinated, so this mechanism was called a “humanitarian corridor.”
It was the Ukrainian side that proposed drawing up “some lists” in order to allow the passage of citizens on specific dates. In turn, we immediately sent an official written position with the lists (formed on the basis of applications from citizens) to the Ukrainian side.
Moreover, for an appreciable length of time we had been duplicating those letters, as well as insisted both during personal and direct contacts on providing a response in terms of organizing a humanitarian corridor.
Instead, at the regular meeting of the humanitarian subgroup, the official representative of Kiev said that this issue was not on the agenda. Subsequently, we learned from the mass media that the Ukrainian side unilaterally decided to launch checkpoints on the border with the DPR. As the representative of Ukraine claimed, the mentioned checkpoints intend to work from 11:00 to 14:00, but citizens will not be let through at 13:30 already.
On June 9, a letter was sent again to the Ukrainian side, suggesting drawing up a joint mechanism to prevent the spread of COVID-19. After all, we are aware of the difficult situation in Ukraine, where outbreaks of the infection are registered even among senior government officials. Accordingly, we have no right to risk the lives and health of our citizens.
However, it is striking that at the previous meeting of the humanitarian subgroup, the Ukrainian party did not respond to any of the proposals for the joint opening of COVID-19. I want to emphasize that we are ready for any online meetings and personal contacts to solve this issue. The key condition is that representatives of Ukraine must provide their written position, as coordinator of the humanitarian subgroup Tony Frisch pointed out.
To date, the Ukrainian side categorically refuses to look for ways to elaborate a common mechanism. I want to emphasize that they should not gamble with the health and lives of people on either side of the delimitation line. We ask not to politicize this issue and not to use it for grandstanding.
I call on all the parties concerned to immediately influence Ukraine’s destructive position. We must ensure the right of the citizens to freedom of movement in the shortest term,” the ombudsperson said.