On Kyiv Embassy Attack, Lithuania Links to Downed Ukrainian Military Transport Plane -- But Not at UN Security Council Stakeout

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, June 17, more here -- After the UN Security Council met on June 16 about Ukraine, Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin came to the UN Television stakeout and said that it was Lithuania which blocked the proposed press statement about the attack on its embassy in Kyiv and Ukraine's duties under the Vienna Convention.

  As Inner City Press reported, Churkin also spoke to proposals to link condemnation the embassy attack to a statement on the plane downing near Luhansk.

   Lithuania's foreign ministry tweeted to Inner City Press that its Mission to the UN "asked for a statement condemning the downing of Ukrainian [Army transport] plane by armed insurgents which cost 49 lives. Blocking? No way."

  The explanation is appreciated, as have been Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius' responses. But the Free UN Coalition for Access believes that Lithuania's Mission to the UN should have followed -- or it is wished preceded -- Churkin to the stakeout and stated its position on record.

  This is not a one-time occurrence. As Inner City Press (and FUNCA) pointed out earlier this year, during Lithuania's month as Security Council president they did few, very few, stakeouts even after closed-door consultations. After the review, it was said that this would change as Lithuania gained more experience on the Council.

 On that, until now it has been said that the Security Council condemns attacks on diplomats and diplomatic facilities, like terrorism, without attempting to link them to stated underlying causes. So it would still be good for Lithuania's mission to speak to this on the record.

  At work in all this is the non-identity of particular diplomats with the country they represent. Inner City Press strives to distinguish the two -- the upcoming departure of French PR Gerard Araud will present an opportunity, possibly brief -- and so once again notes: hearing more rather than less on the record is always better. 

 Here's an example from yesterday, about grenades in Syria.

Earlier on June 16 Inner City Press asked Ban's deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq about it the attack on Russia's embassy in Kyiv. Video here.

  Haq replied, "certainly we are concerned about the efforts on the ground that have led to greater violence," then referred again to "Eastern Ukraine."

  Inner City Press pointed out that the embassy attacked is not in the East, but in the capital. 

  Haq replied that Ban's "statement was designed to stress the main root of the problem."  Video here.

   So, Inner City Press asked, is the UN saying that attacks on some embassies are justified? Haq did not answer. 

  Meanwhile Journalists Evgeny Davydov and Nikita Konashenkov were detained by Ukraine's National Guard at the Dnepropetrovsk airport in the Donetsky region, in what is becoming a pattern, on June 14.  

 In this they are at least luckier than Italian journalist Andrea Rocchelli and his interpreter Andrey Mironov, both killed in May in the run up to the election.

  With the UN Security Council yet to issue its usual boilerplate press statement citing the Vienna Convention after the attack on Russia's embassy in Kyiv, any statement on the detention of these journalists seem even more UNlikely.

  When the UN Security Council met after the election, Lithuania's Ambassador cited the killed young Italian journalist without mentioning (Russian) Mironov, nor that authorities killed both of them. While others might take this approach, at the UN the Free UN Coalition for Access says journalists are journalists, just as civilians are civilians.

  On that, it's similar to the reaction of some to Ukraine's air force bombing Luhansk, click here for more on that.

    Back on May 25 amid voting in Ukraine, Italian journalist Andrea Rocchelli and his interpreter Andrey Mironov were found dead near the village of Andreevka outside Slavyansk on May 25.

  Rocchelli had been taking photographs, for example of children seeking protection from shelling in a basement in Slavyansk's Cherevkovka neighborhood.

  Italian Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini confirmed the deaths; another photographer who was traveling with Rocchelli and Mironov said they were hit by mortar fire as they were taking shelter in a roadside ditch; it's reported the journalists came under shelling from Ukrainian troops late on May 24.

   If this happened say in Syria, what would the reaction be? What will the reaction be now?

  On May 23 when Ukraine's Permanent Representative to the UN Yuriy Sergeyev held a press conference two days before the elections, Inner City Press asked about the “UN” painted helicopters shown by LifeNews as being in Ukraine, and about the two LifeNews journalists then detained.

  Sergeyev said he contacted his government's defense department and was assured that helicopters that serve for pay in UN peacekeeping mission returned painted white but with the UN insignia “erased.” He said the filming was not in Ukraine.

  Inner City Press asked if it was in a UN peacekeeping mission why the soldiers around the copter were in camouflage and not UN blue helmets. This has not been answered.

  On the LifeNews journalists, Sergeyev said they had confessed to not being “pure journalists” and had revealed Ukraine military positions.

  Inner City Press asked if that wasn't always a possible charge of war reporters. It might also be asked which others detained while engaged in acts of journalism, sometimes, are not “pure journalists.” 

  The Free UN Coalition for Access supports these journalists and continued to ask about their fate, as it asked the UN's Ivan Simonovic in late May. 

  The two were later released, and have said they were held with sacks over their heads, arms and legs tied. 

  On a second round of questions on May 23, Inner City Press asked about the four or five investigations of the May 2 murders in Odessa that Simonovic had described. Sergeyev said Simonovic must have been referring to four or five versions of events, because there are only Ukrainian investigations.

  Inner City Press at the day's noon briefing asked Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokesman Stephane Dujarric how many investigations of Odessa there are, and if one involving the Organization for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons is being considered. 

  And so far from the UN, nothing on the detention of journalists Evgeny Davydov and Nikita Konashenkov. Watch this site.

   

On Kyiv Embassy Attack, Russia Surprised at UN Secretariat Silence, Says Lithuania Blocked UNSC Press Statement

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, June 16, more here -- After the UN Security Council met on June 16 about Ukraine, Inner City Press asked Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin about the lack of comment from Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on the attack on the Russian Embassy in Kyiv. 

  Churkin replied, “Actually I am a little bit surprised... I hope it is because the Secretary General was traveling." 

   But while Ban has been in Bolivia, he did issue a statement on the downing of a Ukrainian military plane near Luhansk, and on Israel and other topics. Earlier on June 16 Inner City Press asked Ban's deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq about it the attack on Russia's embassy in Kyiv. Video here.

  Haq replied, "certainly we are concerned about the efforts on the ground that have led to greater violence," then referred again to "Eastern Ukraine."

  Inner City Press pointed out that the embassy attacked is not in the East, but in the capital. 

  Haq replied that Ban's "statement was designed to stress the main root of the problem."  Video here.

   So, Inner City Press asked, is the UN saying that attacks on some embassies are justified? Haq did not answer. 

  In the Security Council, Churkin said, it was Lithuania which blocked a press statement on the embassy attack. He was asked about other Western delegations trying to link condemnation the embassy attack to a statement on the plane downing near Luhansk. 

   Inner City Press asked Churkin about President Petro Poroshenko's statement he will call for a ceasefire AFTER he secures the border. Churkin replied, "a number of statements of President Elect, now President Poroshenko are not implemented in practice."

  Inner City Press asked if the human rights in Ukraine report due from the UN's Ivan Simonovic on June 17 will be presented in the Security Council. Churkin said that has yet to be determined, that he is particularly interested in seeing Simonovic's inquiry into the May 2 killings in Odessa. 

  There is also the jet-bombing in Luhansk, or Luganda, of the administration building. Simonovic will give a briefing a block outside the UN this week, in it but not of it: we'll be watching.

Meanwhile Journalists Evgeny Davydov and Nikita Konashenkov were detained by Ukraine's National Guard at the Dnepropetrovsk airport in the Donetsky region, in what is becoming a pattern, on June 14.  

 In this they are at least luckier than Italian journalist Andrea Rocchelli and his interpreter Andrey Mironov, both killed in May in the run up to the election.

  With the UN Security Council yet to issue its usual boilerplate press statement citing the Vienna Convention after the attack on Russia's embassy in Kyiv, any statement on the detention of these journalists seem even more UNlikely.

  When the UN Security Council met after the election, Lithuania's Ambassador cited the killed young Italian journalist without mentioning (Russian) Mironov, nor that authorities killed both of them. While others might take this approach, at the UN the Free UN Coalition for Access says journalists are journalists, just as civilians are civilians.

  On that, it's similar to the reaction of some to Ukraine's air force bombing Luhansk, click here for more on that.

    Back on May 25 amid voting in Ukraine, Italian journalist Andrea Rocchelli and his interpreter Andrey Mironov were found dead near the village of Andreevka outside Slavyansk on May 25.

  Rocchelli had been taking photographs, for example of children seeking protection from shelling in a basement in Slavyansk's Cherevkovka neighborhood.

  Italian Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini confirmed the deaths; another photographer who was traveling with Rocchelli and Mironov said they were hit by mortar fire as they were taking shelter in a roadside ditch; it's reported the journalists came under shelling from Ukrainian troops late on May 24.

   If this happened say in Syria, what would the reaction be? What will the reaction be now?

  On May 23 when Ukraine's Permanent Representative to the UN Yuriy Sergeyev held a press conference two days before the elections, Inner City Press began by asking him why chocolate magnate Petro Poroshenko had not agreed to participate in debates. (On May 25, Poroshenko is pictured voting, here.)

  Sergeyev replied that he understands Poroshenko would, if there is a second round.

  Then Inner City Press asked Sergeyev about the “UN” painted helicopters shown by LifeNews as being in Ukraine, and about the two LifeNews journalists then detained.

  Sergeyev said he contacted his government's defense department and was assured that helicopters that serve for pay in UN peacekeeping mission returned painted white but with the UN insignia “erased.” He said the filming was not in Ukraine.

  Inner City Press asked if it was in a UN peacekeeping mission why the soldiers around the copter were in camouflage and not UN blue helmets. This has not been answered.

  On the LifeNews journalists, Sergeyev said they had confessed to not being “pure journalists” and had revealed Ukraine military positions.

  Inner City Press asked if that wasn't always a possible charge of war reporters. It might also be asked which others detained while engaged in acts of journalism, sometimes, are not “pure journalists.” 

  The Free UN Coalition for Access supports these journalists and continued to ask about their fate, as it asked the UN's Ivan Simonovic in late May. 

  The two were later released, and have said they were held with sacks over their heads, arms and legs tied. 

  On a second round of questions on May 23, Inner City Press asked about the four or five investigations of the May 2 murders in Odessa that Simonovic had described. Sergeyev said Simonovic must have been referring to four or five versions of events, because there are only Ukrainian investigations.

  Inner City Press at the day's noon briefing asked Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokesman Stephane Dujarric how many investigations of Odessa there are, and if one involving the Organization for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons is being considered. 

  And so far from the UN, nothing on the detention of journalists Evgeny Davydov and Nikita Konashenkov. Watch this site.

   

With UN Silent on Kyiv Embassy Attack, ICP Asks Ban Ki-moon's Deputy Spox Haq, Who Says "Main Root of the Problem" Is In Eastern Ukraine

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, June 16, more here -- After UN Secretary General said nothing about the attack on the Russian embassy in Kyiv over the weekend, while issuing a statement on the downing of a Ukrainian military plane near Luhansk, Inner City Press asked Ban's deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq about it on June 16.

  Haq replied, "certainly we are concerned about the efforts on the ground that have led to greater violence," then referred again to "Eastern Ukraine."

  Inner City Press pointed out that the embassy attacked is not in the East, but in the capital. 

  Haq replied that Ban's "statement was designed to stress the main root of the problem."

   So, Inner City Press asked, is the UN saying that attacks on some embassies are justified? Haq did not answer. A UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine is scheduled for 3 pm on June 16.

Meanwhile Journalists Evgeny Davydov and Nikita Konashenkov were detained by Ukraine's National Guard at the Dnepropetrovsk airport in the Donetsky region, in what is becoming a pattern, on June 14.  

 In this they are at least luckier than Italian journalist Andrea Rocchelli and his interpreter Andrey Mironov, both killed in May in the run up to the election.

  With the UN Security Council yet to issue its usual boilerplate press statement citing the Vienna Convention after the attack on Russia's embassy in Kyiv, any statement on the detention of these journalists seems even more UNlikely.

  When the UN Security Council met after the election, Lithuania's Ambassador cited the killed young Italian journalist without mentioning (Russian) Mironov, nor that authorities killed both of them. While others might take this approach, at the UN the Free UN Coalition for Access says journalists are journalists, just as civilians are civilians.

  On that, it's similar to the reaction of some to Ukraine's air force bombing Luhansk, click here for more on that.

    Back on May 25 amid voting in Ukraine, Italian journalist Andrea Rocchelli and his interpreter Andrey Mironov were found dead near the village of Andreevka outside Slavyansk on May 25.

  Rocchelli had been taking photographs, for example of children seeking protection from shelling in a basement in Slavyansk's Cherevkovka neighborhood.

  Italian Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini confirmed the deaths; another photographer who was traveling with Rocchelli and Mironov said they were hit by mortar fire as they were taking shelter in a roadside ditch; it's reported the journalists came under shelling from Ukrainian troops late on May 24.

   If this happened say in Syria, what would the reaction be? What will the reaction be now?

  On May 23 when Ukraine's Permanent Representative to the UN Yuriy Sergeyev held a press conference two days before the elections, Inner City Press began by asking him why chocolate magnate Petro Poroshenko had not agreed to participate in debates. (On May 25, Poroshenko is pictured voting, here.)

  Sergeyev replied that he understands Poroshenko would, if there is a second round.

  Then Inner City Press asked Sergeyev about the “UN” painted helicopters shown by LifeNews as being in Ukraine, and about the two LifeNews journalists then detained.

  Sergeyev said he contacted his government's defense department and was assured that helicopters that serve for pay in UN peacekeeping mission returned painted white but with the UN insignia “erased.” He said the filming was not in Ukraine.

  Inner City Press asked if it was in a UN peacekeeping mission why the soldiers around the copter were in camouflage and not UN blue helmets. This has not been answered.

  On the LifeNews journalists, Sergeyev said they had confessed to not being “pure journalists” and had revealed Ukraine military positions.

  Inner City Press asked if that wasn't always a possible charge of war reporters. It might also be asked which others detained while engaged in acts of journalism, sometimes, are not “pure journalists.” 

  The Free UN Coalition for Access supports these journalists and continued to ask about their fate, as it asked the UN's Ivan Simonovic in late May. 

  The two were later released, and have said they were held with sacks over their heads, arms and legs tied. 

  On a second round of questions on May 23, Inner City Press asked about the four or five investigations of the May 2 murders in Odessa that Simonovic had described. Sergeyev said Simonovic must have been referring to four or five versions of events, because there are only Ukrainian investigations.

  Inner City Press at the day's noon briefing asked Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokesman Stephane Dujarric how many investigations of Odessa there are, and if one involving the Organization for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons is being considered. 

  And so far from the UN, nothing on the detention of journalists Evgeny Davydov and Nikita Konashenkov. Watch this site.

   

Journalists Said Detained by Ukraine in Donetsk As Kyiv Embassy Attack Still UNacted On By UN Security Council, Ban Ki-moon: Vienna Convention?

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, June 15, more here -- Journalists Evgeny Davydov and Nikita Konashenkov were detained by Ukraine's National Guard at the Dnepropetrovsk airport in the Donetsky region, in what is becoming a pattern, on June 14.  

 In this they are at least luckier than Italian journalist Andrea Rocchelli and his interpreter Andrey Mironov, both killed in May in the run up to the election.

  With the UN Security Council yet to issue its usual boilerplate press statement citing the Vienna Convention after the attack on Russia's embassy in Kyiv, any statement on the detention of these journalists seem even more UNlikely.

  When the UN Security Council met after the election, Lithuania's Ambassador cited the killed young Italian journalist without mentioning (Russian) Mironov, nor that authorities killed both of them. While others might take this approach, at the UN the Free UN Coalition for Access says journalists are journalists, just as civilians are civilians.

  On that, it's similar to the reaction of some to Ukraine's air force bombing Luhansk, click here for more on that.

    Back on May 25 amid voting in Ukraine, Italian journalist Andrea Rocchelli and his interpreter Andrey Mironov were found dead near the village of Andreevka outside Slavyansk on May 25.

  Rocchelli had been taking photographs, for example of children seeking protection from shelling in a basement in Slavyansk's Cherevkovka neighborhood.

  Italian Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini confirmed the deaths; another photographer who was traveling with Rocchelli and Mironov said they were hit by mortar fire as they were taking shelter in a roadside ditch; it's reported the journalists came under shelling from Ukrainian troops late on May 24.

   If this happened say in Syria, what would the reaction be? What will the reaction be now?

  On May 23 when Ukraine's Permanent Representative to the UN Yuriy Sergeyev held a press conference two days before the elections, Inner City Press began by asking him why chocolate magnate Petro Poroshenko had not agreed to participate in debates. (On May 25, Poroshenko is pictured voting, here.)

  Sergeyev replied that he understands Poroshenko would, if there is a second round.

  Then Inner City Press asked Sergeyev about the “UN” painted helicopters shown by LifeNews as being in Ukraine, and about the two LifeNews journalists then detained.

  Sergeyev said he contacted his government's defense department and was assured that helicopters that serve for pay in UN peacekeeping mission returned painted white but with the UN insignia “erased.” He said the filming was not in Ukraine.

  Inner City Press asked if it was in a UN peacekeeping mission why the soldiers around the copter were in camouflage and not UN blue helmets. This has not been answered.

  On the LifeNews journalists, Sergeyev said they had confessed to not being “pure journalists” and had revealed Ukraine military positions.

  Inner City Press asked if that wasn't always a possible charge of war reporters. It might also be asked which others detained while engaged in acts of journalism, sometimes, are not “pure journalists.” 

  The Free UN Coalition for Access supports these journalists and continued to ask about their fate, as it asked the UN's Ivan Simonovic in late May. 

  The two were later released, and have said they were held with sacks over their heads, arms and legs tied. 

  On a second round of questions on May 23, Inner City Press asked about the four or five investigations of the May 2 murders in Odessa that Simonovic had described. Sergeyev said Simonovic must have been referring to four or five versions of events, because there are only Ukrainian investigations.

  Inner City Press at the day's noon briefing asked Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokesman Stephane Dujarric how many investigations of Odessa there are, and if one involving the Organization for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons is being considered. 

  And so far from the UN, nothing on the detention of journalists Evgeny Davydov and Nikita Konashenkov. Watch this site.

   

On Ukraine, UNSC Silent on Embassy Attack Seven Hours After US

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, June 14, more here -- On this Saturday at 1 pm in Washington, US State Department Jen Psaki told the press, "The United States condemns the attack on the Russian Embassy in Kyiv, and calls on Ukrainian authorities to meet their Vienna convention obligations to provide adequate security."

  But seven hours later, not only was UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon silent on the issue, the UN Security Council had not issued its boilerplate Press Statement about the “inviolability of diplomatic missions under the Vienna Convention" of 1963.

  When embassies are attacked, these statements are routine. If one is blocked here, what is the message?

   While Ban Ki-moon stayed silent on the embassy, he issued a statement condemning "in the strongest terms the downing of an Ukrainian military airplane today in Lugansk, killing 49 people."

  If these events, or decisions to block statements on attacks on embassies, are being linked, what is the precedent?

When asked of the killings in Odessa on May 2, or the more recent jet bombing of Luhansk, the UN tells the Press to wait for the June 17 report of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

  Navi Pillay, leaving that post on August 31, in her June 10 last opening statement to the Human Rights Council said, "In Ukraine, the UN response to the crisis stepped up as the situation deteriorated in February 2014. My Office swiftly deployed a human rights monitoring mission that has so far issued two reports, with concrete recommendations including guarantees for the implementation of minority rights. I hope that the new Government will address the human rights challenges in Ukraine, and I encourage it to devise a comprehensive human rights reform plan that includes accountability for violations."

   In other parts of her speech, Pillay mentioned specifics, including for example on the deadly mine accident in Turkey. But on Ukraine, nothing on jet bombings or the asserted use of chloroform in Odessa.

   Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has nominated to replace Pillay Prince Zeid, who has represented and spoken for Jordan on the Security Council since January. On Ukraine, what has he said of the jet bombing, of Odessa, of the detention and shelling death of journalists attributed to the government?  He is set to be voted on - or approved by acclamation - on June 16. Watch this site.

Background: Of the UN's last report on Ukraine, dated May 16, much  much has been said. Here is what is said about the events of May 2 in Odessa:

“63. On 2 May, a national unity rally gathered around 1,500 people, including many fans from the football clubs of Chornomorets Odesa and Metalist Kharkiv, as well as city residents. Among the crowd there were reportedly also some radical members of the Right Sector and Maidan self-defence unit armed with bats and metal sticks. Shortly after the rally began, the latter were provoked by approximately 300 well-organized and armed pro-federalism activists; the rally turning into a mass disorder, which lasted for several hours. As a result, four protesters in support of Ukraine were killed by gunshots (a fifth died later in the hospital from his injuries). Many were injured during the afternoon (mostly protesters supporting federalism). During the evening, violent clashes between the two sides continued on the main square (Kulikove polje), which ended in a fire a at the Trade Union building where protesters supporting federalism had taken refuge. As a result of the events, 46 people died of whom 30 (including 6 women) were trapped and unable to leave the burning building and 8 (including one woman) died from jumping out of the windows. In total, 38 died at the scene of the fire. At least 230 were injured.”

  While not attributing the setting of the fire which targeted “pro-federalism” activists, the UN report says that these “armed” pro-federalism activists “provoked” the Right Sector.

  Ivan Simonovic is in Ukraine, but will only go to Odessa AFTER today's report has been released. Inner City Press has previously reported on what OHCHR sources have said are Simonovic's moved to try to become Pillay's successor(there are other candidates; more on that soon). 

  Now sources say with Eastern Europe in line to pick the successor to Ban Ki-moon as UN Secretary General, Simonovic may be vying for the UN's top post alongside Irina Bokova and others, including non Eastern Europeans Helen Clark of UNDP and Kevin Rudd of, well, Kevin Rudd, who'd like to compete with Kamel Morjane, long time associate of Ben Ali in Tunisia, to replace Lakhdar Brahimi on Syria.

  Ah, politics.

  Tellingly, when US Voice of America wrote up the UN report, here, it didn't even mention Odessa (or Odesa), citing only anti-government groups. There is legislation pending in the US Congress to confirm that Voice of America must follow the US line -- but isn't that already the case? 

  In full disclosure, Voice of America along with UN Correspondents Association executive committee members from Reuters and Agence France Presse sought to get Inner City Press thrown out of the UN,  as documented by Freedom of Information Act inquiries. Click here (VOA letter to current UN spokesman), here (AFP) and here for VOA about Reuters' support, here's Reuters bureau chief asking Google to ban from Search his “for the record” complaint to the UN against Inner City Press: censorship.

  As a human rights irony, these same and UNCA's executive committee set up a kangaroo court to prosecute Inner City Press for its reporting on Sri Lanka war criminals and conflicts of interest, here.

  Ah, human rights. Watch this site.