The International Advisory Panel has noted the insufficient independence and impartiality of Ukraine's investigations into the violent events in Odesa on May 2, 2014.

While presenting the results of the Panel’s report a press conference in Kyiv on Wednesday, Chair of the International Advisory Group Nicolas Bratza said that the investigations have not been sufficiently independent. The first investigation was conducted by the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine, another two were carried out by the Main Investigation Department of the Interior Ministry. According to the International Advisory Panel, the two investigations were carried out without the proper degree of institutional and practical independence, noting that representatives of the State Emergencies Service who were involved in the Odesa events are part of the Interior Ministry of Ukraine.

As was the case regarding the investigations into the Maidan events, the International Advisory Panel highlighted the importance of demonstrating the impartiality and independence of any given investigation, Bratza said. Public confidence in the criminal justice system has been threatened as a result, he added.

In his words, the expert group also expressed its concern over the fact that seven suspects have been held in custody for almost 18 months. All seven are members of the same unnamed group. However, none of the suspects who belonged to the group "For Ukraine's Unity" were taken into custody and in fact they were only detained for a few days immediately after the events.

According to Bratza, this affected the quality and efficiency of the investigations into the tragedy.