U.S. Department of State criticizes Ukraine for corruption and human rights violations

Ukraine suffers from corruption in the prosecutor’s offices and the judiciary as well as insufficient administration of justice.

This is stated in the country report on human rights practices for 2015 released by the U.S. Department of State.

“Civilian authorities generally had control over law enforcement agencies but rarely took action to investigate and punish abuses committed by security forces,” reads the report.

Impunity for abuses by law enforcement remained a significant problem. During a September visit to the country, the UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions recommended that the government establish a system of independent overview of the conduct of law enforcement, with a particular focus on allegations of mistreatment by the SBU.

It is also noted that the country suffered from corruption and deficiencies in the administration of justice. Human rights groups and the UN noted there were few investigations into human rights abuses committed by security forces. In particular, the report says that “the Security Service of Ukraine and Ministry of Internal Affairs operated with impunity.” Corruption in the Prosecutor General’s Office and the judiciary was of particular concern.

The report stresses that government generally failed to take adequate steps to prosecute or punish most officials who committed abuses, resulting in a climate of impunity.

“Investigations into the 2014 Euromaidan shootings in Kyiv and riots in Odesa remained incomplete more than a year later. Investigations into human rights abuses related to the Russian occupation of Crimea and the conflict in the Donbas region were also incomplete,” reads the document.

The report also points out that Ukraine practices arbitrary arrests and the violence against detainees. In particular, this practice is typical of persons suspected of terrorism.