The international human rights group Amnesty International has urged Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych to ensure accountability for human rights abuses.
In a new briefing, the rights watchdog says Ukraine's laws and practices need to be brought into line with international standards.
"The new authorities in Kyiv must not squander the progress in the protection of human rights that Ukraine has made over the last 20 years," the group quotes senior director Nicola Duckworth as saying.
"Statements in support of human rights are commendable," Duckworth adds. "They must be backed up by deeds -- by impartial and thorough investigations into all allegations of human rights violations, by bringing those responsible to account and by providing redress for the victims."
The report offers advice on how to protect individuals in Ukraine from torture and other ill treatment in police custody, including from racial discrimination, and how to protect the rights of refugees and asylum seekers.
It calls on the new administration to "establish, as a matter of priority, an independent police complaints mechanism" and allow snap visits to detention centers to deter ill treatment.
In a new briefing, the rights watchdog says Ukraine's laws and practices need to be brought into line with international standards.
"The new authorities in Kyiv must not squander the progress in the protection of human rights that Ukraine has made over the last 20 years," the group quotes senior director Nicola Duckworth as saying.
"Statements in support of human rights are commendable," Duckworth adds. "They must be backed up by deeds -- by impartial and thorough investigations into all allegations of human rights violations, by bringing those responsible to account and by providing redress for the victims."
The report offers advice on how to protect individuals in Ukraine from torture and other ill treatment in police custody, including from racial discrimination, and how to protect the rights of refugees and asylum seekers.
It calls on the new administration to "establish, as a matter of priority, an independent police complaints mechanism" and allow snap visits to detention centers to deter ill treatment.
