UN demanding investigations into killings in Kyiv and Odesa in early 2014

"We see the spread of the already commonplace practice of violating basic human rights, including the right to life, as well as physical safety, in the country. The war has given birth to a war. If you look at the figures, 181 involved in demonstrations on Maidan [Independence Square in Kyiv, Ukraine] and the Odesa May 2 demonstration have been killed," Fiona Frazer, head of the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine said on Thursday at a briefing in Kyiv devoted to the UN report, entitled "Responsibility for killings in Ukraine from January 2014 to May 2016." She said that responsibility for the deaths has not been assigned. Courts have found no persons guilty for any of the deaths. Frazer said there have been improvements in the investigation of deaths on Maidan. "As of June 1, 2016, 55 people were named suspects in connection with killings of protesters on Independence Square," she said, noting that some of the cases have already been taken to trial. The report says the biggest obstacle to punishing the guilty is finding suspects, most of whom are not located in Ukraine. Another problem is that evidence has been destroyed. As for the May 2 tragedy in Odesa, UN human rights officials pointed to systemic institutional deficiencies [in Ukraine's judiciary] and procedural violations. The report recommended Ukraine separate technical and human resources in investigating the crimes and punishing those responsible for murder. The OHCHR says Ukraine should strengthen oversight over military prosecutors operating in combat zone [in Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk regions].