#Ukraine: Peace and reconciliation in Odessa

By: Mykola Skoryk, Opposition Block and Member of the Verkhovna Rada for Odessa

The second of May marks the second anniversary of the greatest human tragedy that has affected Odessa in the last 100 years of the history of this great city. Two years further on, and there is no conclusion to the investigations into the terrible events that took place and their causes. There is still no process of reconciliation to bring together the different factions that experienced the trauma of the political demonstrations that led to this disaster.

In May 2014, there was rising unrest in Ukraine stemming from the Ukrainian revolution, multiple clashes between Euromaidan supporters and groups loyal to the former government broke out in the streets of Odessa. Six people were killed during the clashes in the streets, three from bullet wounds. The clashes culminated in a large skirmish outside the Trade Unions House, a landmark building in Odessa located on Kulikovo Field in the city centre. The building then caught fire, resulting in the deaths of 42 people who had sought refuge inside in order to escape the savage street demonstrations and clashes. The events were the bloodiest civil conflict to take place in Odessa since 1918.

A rally for national unity of about 1500 people was held in Sobornaya Square, including many football fans. This rally was attacked by a mob of 300 radicals armed with bats and firearms at Grecheskaya Street. Both sides fought running battles against each other, exchanging stones and petrol bombs, and built barricades throughout the city during the afternoon.

As soon as word spread about the clashes, a call by radicals to go to Kulikovo Field and destroy the anti-Maidan camp emerged on social media. As a result, the anti-Maidan protestors were overwhelmed by radicals, and their encampment outside the Trade Unions House building was burned down, forcing them to seek refuge in the building. The building is five stories tall, and is located on Kulikovo Field, in the city centre. It is the headquarters of the Odessa regional federation of trade unions.

Crowd of radicals began to throw petrol bombs into the building. A fire started on the third floor when a petrol bomb was thrown at a closed window from inside the building. The fire spread very quickly. Thirteen units of fire and rescue were sent to the scene, but were prevented from operating effectively because of the large number of people gathered around the building. Fifty anti-Maidan activists remained on the roof, barricading themselves in and refusing to leave, while others were seen attempting to jump out of the windows. Some of those who tried to escape the fire were set upon and beaten during their attempts to flee by the radical demonstrators outside.

There were 42 people trapped in the burning Trade Unions House, all of whom died. In total, 48 people died in one day as a result of the Odessa clashes. Six people were shot dead. Hospital staff reported that 174 were injured, 25 of whom were in a critical condition. There were 172 people arrested as a result of the conflict, including 38 pro-Russian militants.

Investigation of these events has focused on two cases: the Grecheskaya square clashes and the burning of the House of Trade Unions. The first case was referred to the court on 27 November 2014. Due to external pressure on the court, the panel of judges has changed three times during the process. As of today, the court is still examining the facts of the case, and there has been no indictment or conclusion.

The investigation on the second case of the fire in the Trade Unions House is still ongoing, and there has also been no conclusion.

In order for there to be a reconciliation between the different factions involved, and a healing of the divisions in the community in Odessa, it is important that these two cases are brought to a conclusion, and that the investigations are closed. The citizens of Odessa have suffered violations of civil rights and freedom during the investigations and the court process, and there needs to be an impartial enquiry which will lay these matters to rest, thereby enabling us all to move on. That is why I, as an elected member of parliament for Odessa, representing the Opposition Block, am campaigning for a full and proper enquiry and conclusion of an impartial court process which will draw a line under these tragic events in our history and allow us to move on.

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