Although hostilities have significantly declined in Ukraine, “serious human rights concerns persist,” the UN said [press release] Wednesday in a new report [text, DOC]. The UN attributes this decrease in hostility to the August 26 ceasefire [Reuters report], as certain weapons were withdrawn. However, civilians are still reportedly at risk in the conflict. The UN outlined human rights concerns such as impunity, torture, and lack of rule of law as accountability is shirked and freedom of movement is still an issue for those living in affected areas. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein [official profile] urged those in power to “ensure justice and bring about accountability,” reminding them that they could one day be held criminally liable for their roles.

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has continued to be a prevalent topic ever since the Crimean Annexation [JURIST backgrounder] in March 2014. In August a Russian military court sentenced [JURIST report] two Ukrainian activists to substantial jail time for the charge of conspiring to commit terror attacks. In March the EU committed to stand by [JURIST report] its policy of refusing to recognize Crimea’s annexation, as they purport the illegality of Russia’s referendum. In February Russian liberal political activist Boris Nemtsov was shot in the back four times [BBC report] in the middle of busy downtown Moscow. Nemtsov was openly politically opposed to Russia’s annexation of Crimea and its role in Ukraine, and many believe Vladimir Putin ordered [JURIST report] the killing. The conflict has often been labeled the biggest crisis between Russia and the West since the Cold War. US President Barack Obama has strongly condemned [JURIST report] Russia’s military intervention in the region as a violation of international law.