Amnesty International Ukraine has demanded that an immediate, effective and impartial investigation be conducted into reports of attacks during marches for women’s rights and that a report on its results be made public.
According to a report released by the human rights organization on March 9, public events dedicated to International Women’s Day was held in Kyiv and regions of Ukraine on March 8
“In four cities, their participants themselves became the victims of violent attacks,” reads the report.
According to Amnesty International Ukraine, at least five people were injured during attacks in Kyiv.
“Two women were beaten up and poured with brilliant green. Journalist Bohdan Novak and another participant of the rally were sprayed with pepper gas in the face. Several posters were seized from marchers by force and trampled,” the report says.
In addition, in Uzhgorod, feminist rally participants were poured with red paint and one of the participants sustained a chemical eye burn. In Lviv, unidentified persons attacked marchers and tried to pour paint on them. Patrol police officers detained several attackers.
“As of 22.00 on March 8, there were reports of other attacks on participants of public rallies in Lviv and Mariupol,” the press release notes.
“We are extremely concerned about open aggression against participants in public rallies for women’s rights, and even more about the inability of the police of several cities to guarantee security and law and order during peaceful assemblies. Law enforcement bodies should investigate all reports of attacks, identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice,” Director of Amnesty International Ukraine Oksana Pokalchuk said.
