Insight

Human rights defenders, after the political changes brought about by the 'Euromaidan' movement for independence and which led to political and military confrontation with Russia, work in a situation of armed conflict, helping people to survive and move from the conflict affected zones. In addition to established human rights organizations, dozens of new groups and organizations were created to assist more than a million IDPs to settle in new places. Freedom of expression and other political rights, as well as LGBTI rights have deteriorated in in Eastern Ukraine and Crimea, while criminal investigations were opened against several human rights defenders, who had to move to safer parts in the country.