ATTACK ON HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER

The brutal attack on him, associated with an attempt to physically destroy him, in our opinion, is a confirmation of the negative trends that have recently appeared in our city. We are talking about the massive use of criminal methods in resolving controversial issues in the city. Since December 2004, several large businessmen have been killed in Chernihiv, some were forced to hide from reprisals abroad. The attempt on S. Vodolagin is a continuation of this chain of criminal events.

We are concerned about the situation when people who defend the interests of citizens and the city community become victims of physical violence. Such cases do not add authority to either the authorities or society.

We demand that the authorities investigate this crime and identify the perpetrators and those who ordered it, punishing them in accordance with the law.

We hope that the authorities will listen to the voice of the public and take actions that will not allow the criminals to complete their attempts on the life of S. Vodolagin.

We will monitor the progress of the investigation into this case and call on law enforcement agencies to do everything possible to find the criminals.

The statement was signed by:

Chernihiv Public Committee for the Protection of Human Rights (N. Romanova)

Chernihiv Women’s Human Rights Center (A. Lepekha)

NGO “M’ART” (S. Burov)

NGO “Pravochyn” (S. Potapenko)

Chernihiv Center for Young Human Rights Defenders (R. Shramov)

Public Organization “Human Rights Defender” (S. Vodolagin)

Legal Clinic “Bona Mente” (T. Ediev)

Chernihiv Branch of the NGO “Committee of Voters of Ukraine” (O. Solomakha)