Donetsk, Apr 25 – DAN. The economic blockade of Donbass introduced under the instructions of Ukrainian president Petr Poroshenko made civilians strive for survival in unbearable conditions, a witness told the Ukrainian People’s Tribunal for Poroshenko’s regime war crimes against Ukrainian citizens (UPT) hearing in Donetsk today.
"The pre-war population of Donetskiy township in the town of Kirovsk was 3,800 people. Only 172 of them remained in the village during the massive attacks period. In late 2014 and early 2015, there was no power, water, communications. Corpses were lying on the streets, walking through the village was unbearable. It was an ordeal, Ukrainian authorities made it hard to survive. The township reminded of the Leningrad Siege," said Lyubov Garmash, a resident of Kirovsk, who testified to the court as a victim.
She said the Poroshenko's regime has also deprived Donbass people of social benefits as banks were forbidden to work in the region; civilians faced checkpoints, special permits to cross the contact line and the lack of food and medications.
"We had nothing, we didn't eat bread, we just smelled it. In February 2015 bread was delivered from Lugansk, but the cargo vehicle was instantly hit by a shell. We had to rely on traditional medicine, as there were no medications available," Garmash said.
The Ukrainian People’s Tribunal for Poroshenko’s regime war crimes against Ukrainian citizens (UPT) has resumed hearing of the crimes related to the Donbass crisis.
On April 17, the court wound up two-days hearing reviewing crimes related to war propaganda by the Poroshenko's regime. Earlier the tribunal heard cases on using armed forces against civilians, formation of illegal armed groups, tortures, looting and robbery.
The UPT charged eight people: Ukraine’s president Petr Poroshenko, the minister of internal affairs Arsen Avakov, secretary of the national security and defense council of Ukraine Aleksandr Turchynov, prime minister Vladimir Groisman, commander-in-chief of the armed forces of Ukraine Viktor Muzhenko, defense minister Stepan Poltorak, chairman of the Verkhovnaya Rada Andrey Parubiy, ex-prime-minster Arseniy Yatsenyuk.
On March 15, the Initiative Group of Ukrainian citizens living in Donetsk and Lugansk announced the establishment of the Ukrainian People’s Tribunal for Poroshenko’s regime war crimes. The cases will be tried and files reviewed in accordance with the Ukrainian legislation and international law.*ot