ECHR Rules Ukraine Responsible for Odesa Tragedy, 47 Dead; Compensation Set

The European Court of Human Rights has ruled on the events of May 2, 2014 in Odesa, recognizing Ukraine's responsibility for the actions of state authorities that led to the deaths of people. At the same time, the Court noted that the root cause of the tragedy was Russian propaganda and destabilization of the situation in the country.

This is stated in the court's decision.

The ruling concerns the clashes between pro-Russian and pro-Ukrainian activists that began with an attack by anti-Maidan protesters on a peaceful demonstration and ended with the storming of the pro-Russian forces' camp on Kulikovo Pole, which led to a large-scale fire in the Trade Union Building. As a result of the events, 47 people died.

The lawsuits were filed with the ECtHR by relatives of 25 of the victims and three survivors of the fire. The Court emphasized that despite the differences in the ideological views of the victims, Ukraine as a state should have done more to prevent violence.

The ECHR recorded a number of violations by the Ukrainian authorities:

• Odesa police did not take sufficient measures to prevent the violence, despite the availability of intelligence about possible unrest.
• Heads of local law enforcement agencies, including Deputy Chief of Police Volodymyr Fuchezhi, fled to Russia after the events, obtained Russian citizenship and even built a career there.
• Rescuers deliberately delayed the arrival of fire trucks by 40 minutes, which increased the number of victims. The head of the State Emergency Service, Volodymyr Bodelan, who gave the relevant orders, also later fled to Russia.
• After the tragedy, local authorities deliberately destroyed evidence under the guise of cleaning up the area.

The court ruled that Ukraine must pay compensation to the victims:

• 15 thousand euros to the relatives of each victim;
• 12 thousand euros to the three plaintiffs who survived but suffered serious burns;
• 17 thousand euros - the largest amount will be paid to the daughter of one of the victims, who was denied the release of her father's body for burial for a long time.

Андрій Колісніченко