FreeСХІД.ua#36 Secrets of the abandoned buildings, Unsafe waters of Donbas, and The “grey zone” entrepreneurs 

Read in this issue:

·       Can con artists use personal client data from the banks left to be despoiled by militants?

·       How to transport a child across the contact line hassle-free;

·       What are citizens of the Russian Federation get incarcerated in prisons of “LNR”-“DNR” militant formations for;

·       Who opens kids’ café in the frontline city of Krasnohorivka.

#FreeZONE

In 2014, when people were hastily leaving war-torn Luhansk, banks, firms and plants were closing in haste. Many of them are still abandoned – being looted for scrap metal.

Owners of the buildings left behind not just equipment that was impossible to evacuate, but also documents - IDs and personnel files. What will happen if con artists manage to crack those safes? Realna Gazeta sheds light on the issue.

#FreeINVESTIGATION

Today there are hundreds of citizens of the Russian Federation detained at “DNR” prisons – “Nova Gazeta” investigated this phenomenon.

What is the story about?

·       No one can tell the exact number of the RF citizens detained at “DNR” prisons. Officially, in the course of the last four years 480 citizens of the Russian Federation have been arrested by militants. Charges vary – all the way up to quite unexpected “espionage for Russia”. Today, about 150 people are being kept at pre-trial detention facilities. The fate of the rest of the detainees is unknown.

·       There were instances of violent conflicts at pre-trial detention facilities between pro-Russian militants and “thieves” kept there since before the occupation.

·       Criminal investigation procedures in occupied territories are based on the “DNR” Criminal Code – which is a hybrid of the Russian Criminal Code and the Criminal Code of Ukraine, and other legislature, including Code of Criminal Procedure of the Soviet Republic of Ukraine dated the 60-th of the last century.  

·       By order signed by Alexander Zakharchenko in August 2014 any person can be arrested and detained for 30 days. Meanwhile, people are kept in pre-trial detention for years without ever being charged.

·       After the famous December prisoner exchange some individuals exchanged by the Ukrainian side were immediately charged with espionage by the “DNR” militant authorities.

#FreeLAW

HRDs from “Donbas-SOS” public organization explained how to cross separation line with a child under 16 years of age.

Their detailed instruction provides information on whether a child needs a pass (no, he/she does not) who can accompany a minor at crossing apart for his/her parents, where and how crossing permit can be issued, can crossing permit be issued by a state other than Ukraine, can a child cross separation line without consent signed by both his/her parents, etc.

#FreeNUMBER

Another chilling number comes up this week.

According to United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as a result of war conflict in Donbas ecosystems with the total area of 350 thousand ha had been destroyed or suffered severe damage – including 18 natural reserves.

Military action zone is covered in unexploded ordnance, the removal might take years, or even decades.  Ecologists also warn that 650 mile waterway pollution due to conflict poses a serious risk to public health.

#FreeQUOTE

Viacheslav LIKHACHEV, human right violation record coordinator at “Vostok-SOS”:

“Population of the freed Donbas territories, despite all the patriotic declarations made by the official Kyiv, do not fully feel themselves a part of the Ukrainian society. This perception is in part a result of prejudice and propaganda of 2014, but to a greater extend - it is a product of multiple factors that compile the policy of Ukraine regarding the freed territories.”

According to Likhachev one of the crucial factors is the absence of adequate Ukrainian TV and radio broadcast. 4 years after Ukraine regained control over the territories, Ukrainian media broadcast still does not cover some of the towns and villages.

#FreeH2O

Our colleagues from “Informator” periodical explored another pressing issue: can one drink water from local sources in Luhansk region or swim in local bodies of water?

Important:

·       the cleanest water in the region is in Siverodonetsk-city. But even here experts do not recommend drinking tap water;

• in the agricultural north of the region nitrates are often found in well water (drinking such water is especially dangerous to children in the first years of life as it might lead to health condition known as Metroglobinemia) (лінк на англійську версію https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000562.htm), meanwhile, water in mining settlements near contact line is very hard, as it contains   coal mine effluents;

·       it is safe to swim in less than half of Luhansk region bodies of water – 13 out of 27.

#FreePEOPLE

Yuriy RYBAK, Horlivka– Odessa

Yuriy is a son of the Horlivka City Counsel Deputy - Volodymyr Rybak, who became one of the first victims of the “Russian spring” of 2014 when he was brutally murdered. After the funeral, the Rybak family moved out of Horlivka. Today Yuriy is the head of patrol police in Odessa region. 

Several quotes from his interview:

“Our house was hit by a shell, which ruined walls and the roof over half of the building. As far as I know, after that our next-door neighbors came by to steal whatever was left in the house and had some value to it. At first we tried to communicate with our neighbors to get some idea about what is going on with the house, and father’s grave. But they called us “junta”. So, all the connections were lost. I have no idea what is up with the house at the moment”.

“My main objective was to move my mother and sister from Horlivka – safe and sound. And to do it as quick as possible – by any means. We fled in someone else’s car, with someone else’s documents. There were checkpoints on the roads by that time. Our ABP was already out there. I personally saw, as I entered one of the checkpoints, our pictures on the walls and our passport data. By the way, among those armed “inspectors” I recognized members of road police and other forces who didn’t take long before turning to separatists. And they provided information on who stayed true to Ukraine, who took part in pro-Ukrainian rallies…”

“My father always said: you need to work on your public image and on your career – no effort spared. Just bite the bullet and be patient, follow your dream and be a success.”

Alisa SOPOVA,  journalist, Donetsk - the USA

Alisa is a journalist from Donetsk, who has been living in the US since 2016. She works at the Center for International Cooperation in Harvard, but often visits Ukraine, to study the way media cover military conflict in Donbas.

On her Facebook page she writes  stories of people living along the separation line, for instance Rodion from Opytne-village near Donetsk. Despite shelling, espionage allegations and terror Rodion stayed in the village helping elderly to survive. 

In her recent interview Alisa analyzes major media trends in JFO zone:

“The conflict in Donbass has posed a big challenge to Ukrainian journalism, and unfortunately we are not dealing with it well. Overwhelmed with the initial information attack from Russia, Ukrainian journalists didn’t come up with anything better than to become “patriotic” “soldiers of informational war” who are “fighting in the interests of Ukraine.” Without almost any pressure from the government, coverage of the conflict quickly became very biased and propagandistic. One of the most disturbing trends is the refusal to cover anything on the non-government controlled side (and labeling any attempt to do so as treason) and focusing only on the military side of the conflict”.

ENTERPRENEURS of the “grey zone”

The residents of frontline territories at the very separation line are developing their business with the help of financial assistance from the International Committee of the Red Cross.

·       For instance, with the money from such grant Maryinka-city Community House, hit by several artillery shells in 2014, is being renovated. Opening of the first two floors is planned for September 1, 2018, but even today entrepreneurs who used to work here are coming back and setting up their workshops such as tailor shops specializing, among other, in mending military uniforms.

·       Meanwhile, the neighboring city of Krasnohorivka will open a… kid café! Its owner Tetiana KOCHAROVA is sure –little residents of Krasnohorivka are no different from any other kids anywhere in the world – so they need their own space – with toys, cartoons, ice-cream and sweat treats. Tetiana plans on opening a  bakery in adjoined space, and inviting entertainers to perform at holidays and celebrations.  

·       Entrepreneurs from the frontline village of Taramchuk, Tetiana and Oleksandr, are hiring residents of the neighboring villages for raspberry harvesting – 0.7 ha of their farm are under raspberry bushes.  The couple can spend hours talking about their plants –care, harvest, and sales.

#FreeBRAND

Now Luhansk region has its own brand.  

Along with the inscription “My Luhanshchyna” brand products depict major symbol of Luhansk steppe – a marmot, as well as a fox and a horse. These symbols will ornate not just the usual mugs, key chains and stationary, but also socks. Another interesting fact is that Luhanshchyna is the first region in Ukraine that developed its own Тravelbox – interactive online trip of picturesque corners of the region, taken with special 3D-glasses. According to trip developers, such sets will make amazing gifts for the guests of the region.

#FreeTHEATER

July 28 “Girls-girls” play, dedicated to war at Donbas by «PostPlayTheater»  premiered in Kyiv.

Opening production was unique in many ways. First, this theater doesn’t have regular chairs. Second, against all expectations, it’s not war staged in the play, but the way the war is perceived by girls – each of them, in her own place, protecting her native land.

Play shows completely different girls – military, volunteers, journalists, and a psychotherapist. Apart from the objective circumstances related to war, they have to counter public opinion that keeps telling strong and highly motivated heroines that a woman is not supposed to go to war. "PostPlayTheater" managed to engage audience in discussion of gender discrimination at war.

See you next weekend!