Violations of human rights in the areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions which are not controlled by Ukrainian government call into question the possibility of holding democratic elections there, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Simonovic has said.

Speaking at a press conference in Kyiv on Friday after the publication of a report of the UN Office of Human Rights on the situation in Ukraine, Simonovic said that basic rights and freedoms of 2.7 million people who live in areas controlled by illegal armed groups are limited, which involves the limitation of their freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association.

This raises doubts about the possibility of holding free and fair elections in these areas until the situation improves, Simonovic said.

Only respect for civil and political rights can make possible holding the elections the results of which can be recognized, he added.

Simonovic recalled that over the two years of conflict in Donbas, 3,687 criminal cases were opened in connection with missing persons in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.