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==Aidar Battalion atrocities==

==Aidar Battalion atrocities==

Amnesty Internation reported on September 8, 2014 that members of the [[Maidan]]-backed Aidar battalion, operating in the north Luhansk region, have been involved in widespread abuses, including abductions, unlawful detention, ill-treatment, theft, extortion, and possible executions.<ref>https://archive.fo/hgpfJ</ref>  The Aidar battalion is one of over thirty so-called volunteer battalions to have emerged in the wake of the [[Donbas war]], which have been loosely integrated into post-Maidan coup government security structures as they seek to retake Luhansk separatist held areas.

[[Amnesty International]] reported on September 8, 2014 that members of the [[Maidan]]-backed Aidar battalion, operating in the north [[Lugansk]] region, have been involved in widespread abuses, including abductions, unlawful detention, ill-treatment, theft, extortion, and possible executions.<ref>https://archive.fo/hgpfJ</ref>  The Aidar battalion is one of over thirty so-called volunteer battalions to have emerged in the wake of the [[Donbas war]], which have been loosely integrated into post-[[Maidan coup]] government security structures as they seek to retake [[Lugansk People’s Republic]] {LPR) held areas.

In the course of a two-week research mission to the region, an Amnesty International researcher interviewed dozens of victims and witnesses of the abuses, as well as local officials, army commanders and police officers in the area and representatives of the Aidar battalion.  Amnesty International's findings indicated that, while formally operating under the command of the Ukrainian security forces combined headquarters in the region members of the Aidar battalion act with virtually no oversight or control, and local police were either unwilling or unable to address the abuses.  Some of the abuses committed by members of the Aidar battalion amount to war crimes, for which both the perpetrators and, possibly, the commanders would bear responsibility under national and international law.

In the course of a two-week research mission to the region, an Amnesty International researcher interviewed dozens of victims and witnesses of the abuses, as well as local officials, army commanders and police officers in the area and representatives of the Aidar battalion.  Amnesty International's findings indicated that, while formally operating under the command of the [[Security Service of Ukraine]] ([[SBU]]) forces combined headquarters in the region, members of the Aidar battalion act with virtually no oversight or control, and local police were either unwilling or unable to address the abuses.  Some of the abuses committed by members of the Aidar battalion amount to [[war crimes]], for which both the perpetrators and, possibly, the commanders would bear responsibility under national and international law.

Part of the region where the Aidar battalion currently operates – such as the conurbation of Severodonetsk, Lysychansk and Rubizhne and the town of Shchastya - was under the control of the separatist forces of the Lugansk People’s Republic (LNR) from mid-May to late July 2014.  The Aidar battalion played a significant role in the Ukrainian advances in July, most prominently in the recapture of the town of Shchastya, 24 kilometers north of Luhansk city.  

Part of the region where the Aidar battalion currently operates – such as the conurbation of [[Severodonetsk]], [[Lysychansk]] and [[Rubizhne]] and the town of Shchastya - was under the control of the LPR militias from mid-May to late July 2014.  The Aidar battalion played a significant role in the Ukrainian advances in July 2014, most prominently in the recapture of the town of Shchastya, 24 kilometers north of Lugansk city.  

While hailed by many nationally as a committed fighting force, the Aidar battalion has acquired locally a reputation for brutal reprisals, robbery, beatings and extortion.  The failure to eliminate abuses and possible war crimes by volunteer battalions risks significantly aggravating tensions in the east of the country and undermining the proclaimed intentions of the new Ukrainian authorities to strengthen and uphold the rule of law more broadly.

While hailed by many nationally by the [[Kyiv regime]] as a committed fighting force, the Aidar battalion has acquired locally a reputation for brutal reprisals, [[robbery]], beatings and [[extortion]].  The failure to eliminate abuses and possible war crimes by volunteer battalions risked significantly aggravating tensions in eastern Ukraine and undermining the proclaimed intentions of the new Kyiv regime authorities to strengthen and uphold the rule of law more broadly.

Amnesty International documented dozens of cases of abuses allegedly committed by members of the Aidar battalion in Novoaidar district, Starobilsk, Severodonetsk, Lysychansk, and Shchastya between late June and late August.  Typically, the fighters abducted local men, often businessmen or farmers, whom they accused of collaborating with the separatists and held in makeshift detention facilities before either releasing them or handing them over to the Security Service ([[SBU]]).  In nearly all cases documented by Amnesty International the victims were subjected to beatings at the moment of capture and/or during interrogations, and either had to pay ransom for their release, or had possessions, including money, cars, telephones, and other valuables seized by the battalion members. Many of the witnesses and victims approached by Amnesty International were reluctant to share details of the incidents, fearing retaliation from Aidar battalion members.  

Amnesty International documented dozens of cases of abuses allegedly committed by members of the Aidar battalion in Novoaidar district, Starobilsk, Severodonetsk, Lysychansk, and Shchastya between late June and late August 2015.  Typically, the fighters abducted local men, often businessmen or farmers, whom they accused of collaborating with the Donbas people's militias and held in makeshift detention facilities before either releasing them or handing them over to the Security Service of Ukraine.  In nearly all cases documented by Amnesty International the victims were subjected to beatings at the moment of capture and/or during interrogations, and either had to pay [[ransom]] for their release, or had possessions, including money, cars, telephones, and other valuables seized by the battalion members. Many of the witnesses and victims approached by Amnesty International were reluctant to share details of the incidents, fearing retaliation from Aidar battalion members.  

Police and military authorities in Severodonetsk informed Amnesty International that there are 38 criminal cases opened into actions allegedly committed by the members of the Aidar battalion.  Reports on this spate of crimes were submitted up the line to the Ministries of Defense and Interior, without tangible result. Local police told Amnesty International that they were well aware of the widespread criminal actions by the Aidar members but were unable to do anything beyond the registration of criminal cases.  A high-ranking military official in the area informed Amnesty International that after receiving his reports the Ministry of Defense sent two commissions in early August to inspect the Aidar battalion. Their recommendations for its re-organization and the regularization of procedures, have yet to be acted upon.

Police and military authorities in Severodonetsk informed Amnesty International that there were 38 criminal cases opened in 2015 into actions allegedly committed by the members of the Aidar battalion.  Reports on this spate of [[crime]]s were submitted up the line to the Ministries of Defense and Interior, without tangible result. Local police told Amnesty International that they were well aware of the widespread criminal actions by the Aidar members but were unable to do anything beyond the registration of criminal cases.  A high-ranking military official in the area informed Amnesty International that after receiving his reports the Ministry of Defense sent two commissions in early August 2015 to inspect the Aidar battalion. Their recommendations for its re-organization and the regularization of procedures, have yet to be acted upon.

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