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20May14

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Russian senator initiates parlimentary inquest into Odessa tragedy

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Member of the Commission of the Federation Council for monitoring the situation in Ukraine Yevgeny Tarlo has initiated a parliamentary investigation into the Odessa tragedy on May 2 which claimed the lives of nearly half a hundred people.

As an alternative, the senator suggested that the Russian investigative bodies should conduct their own investigation into the causes of the fire in the building of the Trade Unions in Odessa, which might help thwart the accusations that Russia was to blame.

The investigation might be launched in Russia as well; we may question onlookers here and study documents available on the Internet; besides, more people who witnessed the tragedy might come over to Russia to testify. It is possible to collect tremendous files sufficient to open an inquest into the case at the next International Tribunal and also offer barrister's support to the families of the victims in order to sue the Ukrainian state, which let such a tragedy happen, at the International Human Rights Court, the senator said.

Department chief supervising the relations between the CIS states at the Russian Foreign Ministry Viktor Sorokin has approved the initiative. "The Odessa tragedy proved a starting point, prompting the population and the international community to realize whom they support, and their reaction to the tragedy in Odessa has proved even better comprehended than we expected. I absolutely agree that the investigation should be carried through to the end," Sorokin said. He admitted it was no easy to find onlookers ready to testify. Many of them have been intimidated and are afraid to speak," the diplomat admitted.

[Source: Itar Tass, Moscow, 20May14]

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This document has been published on 21May14 by the Equipo Nizkor and Derechos Human Rights. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.