Ukraine News in brief. Thursday 18 January. [Ukrainian sources]

THURSDAY HEADLINES:
In Minsk, "DPR" offered to return Debaltsevo: Ukraine voiced demands.  EU worries about Russia's possible interference in the European Parliament election.  Human Rights Watch has announced a violation of human rights by Russians in the Donbas and Crimea.  The law on reintegration allowed for the purchase of lethal weapons.  The Council approved the admission of NATO armies to participate in exercises on the territory of Ukraine in 2018.

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In 2018, the priority component of the Minsk agreements for Ukraine is the provision of a comprehensive and sustainable cease-fire regime and the return of the IDF of the ORDLO to the demarcation line established by the Memorandum of September 19, 2014.

This was stated on the Facebook page by a spokeswoman for Ukraine's representative Leonid Kuchma's talks, Darka Olifer.

According to this document, Debaltsevo should be under the control of Ukraine . Along with Ukraine's uncontrolled part of the Ukrainian-Russian border, security zones should be created, and in the south of the Donetsk region there should be an area free of heavy weapons and military equipment - these are the settlements of Kalmiusk (formerly Komsomolsk), Kumachovo, Novoazovsk, Sakhanka.

Kyiv raises the issue of the need to ensure full, unhindered and secure access of the OSCE's SMM to the entire ORDLO, including Ukraine's non-controlling Ukrainian-Ukrainian border, she said.

"Separately, we demand the security of the OSCE OSCE so that the mission can fully fulfill its mandate and tasks in terms of continuous monitoring and verification of the implementation of the security aspects of the Minsk agreements," Olifer wrote.

The Ukrainian side expects a meaningful discussion within the framework of the Trilateral Contact Group on the modalities of returning Ukraine to control the border with the Russian Federation in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. To this end, it will promote the creation of a relevant working subgroup.

"The release of hostages is the main focus of the humanitarian subgroup, and this year the parties have already exchanged lists of detainees. We believe that such a release should take place as soon as possible," she said.

The Ukrainian side will promote the initiative of the International Committee of the Red Cross to establish an international search mechanism for missing persons.

"The main task of the socio-economic bloc is to return to Ukraine enterprises that were illegally seized in the ORDL in March 2017 and the abolition of all acts of the RF regarding the recognition of documents issued by the illegitimate authorities of the ORDLO.

Within the framework of the relevant working subgroup, work will continue on the return of debt in accordance with Ukrainian legislation for previously allocated resources, as well as the creation and maintenance of an international group of experts to study the environmental situation in the uncontrolled part of Donbass Ukraine, "added the spokeswoman for the Ukrainian side.

As Obozrevatel wrote, Ukrainian representatives at the meeting of the Tripartite contact group in Minsk demanded to return to the line of demarcation established by the Memorandum of September 19, 2014.

obozrevatel.com  In Ukrainian/український

The European Parliament voices concern over Russia's possible interference in the European Parliament elections in 2019.

EUobserver writes about it .

"Next year, citizens of Europe will elect a new European Parliament, which causes an awkward question: how many places will Russia take?" - asked the European MP from Denmark Yeppa Kohfod during the debate in the European Parliament on January 17.

"Let's not deceive ourselves, Russia's intervention in democratic elections is no exception, it becomes a norm," he added.

In turn, the European Commissioner for Security Julian King drew attention to the high level of organization of actions of the RF concerning the dissemination of false reports.

"The Pro-Kremlin Disinformation Campaign is an organized strategy - spreading the same disinformation stories to the maximum possible number of languages, through the maximum possible number of channels, with the highest possible frequency," King said.

He drew attention to the fact that the East StratCom Task Force over the past two years has revealed more than 3,500 examples of pro-Kremlin fake messages.

Staff StratCom is 22 people, the budget - 1.1 million euros per year. Spanish MEP Esteban Gonzalez Pons said that Russia spends at least 1 billion euros a year on its state media.

In turn, the representative of the euroskeptic party of the United Kingdom (Ukip), David Coburn, said that the Russian Federation is defending freedom of speech, since the pro-Kremlin TV channel RT provides a platform for its political force that could not get it from the BBC.

apostrophe.ua    In Ukrainian/український

In its World Human Rights Watch report 2018, the pro-Russian government in the occupied Donbas, ignoring the fundamentals of law, arbitrarily detained people and subjected them to enforced disappearance

This is reported by the press-service of the organization.

The 643 pages of the 28th edition of its World Human Rights Watch report addresses human rights practices in more than 90 countries around the world.

The report mentions human rights violations in the occupied territories of the Donbas and the Crimea.

In the occupied Donbass, the pro-Russian de facto authorities, completely neglecting the principles of the rule of law, arbitrarily detained people and subjected them to violent disappearance.

"Since the beginning of the Russian occupation of Crimea in 2014, the human rights crisis continues on the peninsula, and the Russian authorities have completely suppressed open criticism of Russia's actions in Crimea, in particular introducing a criminal prosecution, and also because of its pro-Ukrainian position, the Crimean Tatars who are being prosecuted for groundless accusations of separatism and terrorism, "the report says.

During 2017, as a result of hostilities in eastern Ukraine, civilians and civilian infrastructure were at risk from all parties to the armed conflict. During 2018, the priority direction of the Ukrainian government and its international partners should be to prosecute those involved in torture, enforced disappearances, attacks on journalists, as well as anti-corruption and human rights organizations, said in an organization.

"Last year, the attitude of Kyiv to its human rights obligations was as if they were not binding, and the authorities are resorting to certain highly undemocratic actions and propose new bills that underpin the basic freedoms of Ukrainians," says Tanya Cooper, Human Rights Watch researcher in Ukraine.

According to Human Rights Watch, in recent months, the Ukrainian government has taken certain measures to restrict freedom of expression, media activities and associations based on the need to confront Russia's military aggression in eastern Ukraine and anti-Ukrainian propaganda. In March, the authorities approved a bill introducing criminal liability for anti-corruption activists who had not made public their wealth information. In July, President Petro Poroshenko proposed a bill to introduce burdensome and excessive public reporting requirements for all non-profit organizations.

"The prospects of justice for crimes committed during the protest action of the Maidan-2014, which led to a change in the Ukrainian government, as well as the massive unrest in Odesa, are still ghastly. Four years after the Maidan, the authorities demonstrate the reluctance to ensure effective prosecution of those involved. to the death of more than a hundred people and many other crimes,"- wrote in the organization.

-Human Rights Watch is an international, non-governmental, nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting human rights in more than 70 countries of the world with headquarters in New York. The organization was founded in 1978. According to official statements of the organization, it does not receive financial assistance from governmental structures, existing at the expense of private donations.

espreso.tv  In Ukrainian/український

By adopting the law on the reintegration of the Donbas, Ukraine was given the opportunity to use the weapons in the east to the fullest extent.

This was stated by a representative of the president in the Verkhovna Rada Irina Lutsenko, the BPP press service reports.

According to Lutsenko, the law "On the features of state policy on ensuring the state sovereignty of Ukraine over temporarily occupied territories in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions" allows Ukraine not only to recognize Russia as an aggressor country and to extend sanctions, but also to purchase lethal weapons for the needs of the Armed Forces.

"We recognized that we are a self-defense country, which gives us the opportunity to use our weapons to the full, use the Armed Forces and special forces, and also buy lethal weapons from our partner countries," Lutsenko said.

She also added that Canada, the United States and some EU countries are already ready to supply Ukraine with weapons.

It is reported that in recent years Ukraine has suffered losses of more than $ 50 billion through the aggression of Russia, not counting the funds that will go to restore the temporarily occupied region.

-On January 18, 2018, the Verkhovna Rada adopted a law on the reintegration of the Donbas.

-It is noted that deputies refused to return the mention of the Minsk agreements in the document, because they are of a variable nature.

-Meanwhile, Secretary of the Committee on National Security and Defense Ivan Vinnik said that the law should use the term "occupation administration of Russia" instead of "DPR" and "LNR".

espreso.tv  In Ukrainian/український

The Law "On approval of the decision of the President of Ukraine on the admission of units of armed forces of other states to the territory of Ukraine in 2018 to participate in multinational exercises" was approved.

The Council on the second attempt allowed the admission of units of the armed forces of other countries to the territory of Ukraine in 2018 to participate in exercises, for this decision voted 235 deputies, according to parliamentary correspondent Tsensor.NET.

According to the secretary of the National Security and Defense Committee Ivan Vinnik, in 2018 Ukraine plans to carry out the following exercises: "Rapid Trident-2018", "Sea Breeze-2018", "Light Lavina-2018", "Clean Sky-2018", " Riverin-2018".

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Despite the fierce resistance of the provocateurs who are working against our country, and the hysteria of Russia, the law "On the peculiarities of the state policy of ensuring the state sovereignty of Ukraine over temporarily occupied territories in the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts" was adopted by the Verkhovna Rada by 280 votes.

This was stated by O. Turchynov, the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, in a comment, reported  Tsensor.NET  in the press service of the National Security and Defense Council.

According to him, this law creates legal and organizational conditions for the restoration of the territorial integrity of Ukraine in the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.

"In addition, expanding opportunities for the use of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations strengthens our positions in rejecting the armed aggression of the Russian Federation and restoring the territorial integrity of Ukraine," O. Turchynov emphasized, adding that in this law the Russian Federation "is clearly and unequivocally recognized by the state -aggressor, and the territories of individual regions of Donetsk and Lugansk regions occupied."

"It completely overwhelms the attempts by the Russian Federation to disguise the war against Ukraine under the" peacekeeping operation "and considerably strengthens the position of our country in international courts", - said the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council.

"Thank you to all the patriots of Ukraine, who ensured the adoption of this important law for the country," he summed up.

We remind that the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted a resolution on the draft law on the de-occupation of the Donbas.

For 280 deputies voted. Voting in the factions: BPP - 123, "NF" - 76, non - factional - 16, "Self - help" - 22, "Rebirth" - 1, Radical Party - 17, "Motherland" - 15, "The will of the people" - 10.

Against - 33 votes, all - from "Opposition parties".

ua.censor.net.ua    In Ukrainian/український

The EU criticized the President's proposal for the Anti-Corruption Court Bill, which contradicts the recommendations of the Venice Commission.

According to  Tsensor-Reform, this is stated in the written comments of the spokesman of the European Union, which came in response to a request for European truth.

In Brussels, it was reminded that their Ukrainian partners repeatedly committed to the creation of the Anti-corruption court. However, the presidential bill, in the opinion of the EU, does not meet Ukraine's obligations.

"Establishing a truly independent and efficient Anticorruption Court in Ukraine would be a vital step in combating corruption in the country ... The main provisions of the draft are not in line with the recommendations of the Venice Commission. It is important that these issues be reviewed and the EU sends this signal to the Ukrainian authorities," - says in comments.

The EU spokesman emphasizes that the creation of the Anti-Corruption Court, in accordance with the obligations of Ukraine, is necessary to fulfill visa-free requirements.

"Its creation... also requires the European Commission to monitor the mechanism of visa suspension," reads the comment.

It is also noted that the EU is coordinating its efforts with other international players: "The EU is working closely with the United States and the IMF on this issue and, of course, is ready to continue to work with the relevant Ukrainian authorities to support this process."

Recall that the IMF said that  Poroshenko's draft on the Anti-corruption Court was in contradiction with Ukraine's commitments , while Ukrainian civilian experts also assessed the President's bill on the Supreme Anti-corruption Court as not in line with the Venice Commission's conclusion and did not allow for the independence of anti-corruption legal proceedings, and spoke out public statement-a demand to withdraw it.

reforms.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український