This day five years ago more than 40 anti-Maidan activists were killed by Ukrainian radicals in Odessa. Those innocent civilians were burnt alive at the Trade Union House in Odessa.

In 2014 the Secretary General of the Council of Europe set up the International Advisory Panel to oversee the investigation of the violent incidents in Kiev during the Maidan. Later on the Panel was also authorized to review the investigation of the violent incidents in Odessa.

The Panel thoroughly examined these violent incidents and published the report with findings and recommendations in 2015. Those findings and recommendations concerned the effectiveness and transparency, quality and procedure of the investigation process. The Advisory Panel identified quite a number of problems and challenges which the investigation was facing. Prominent experts expressed their hope that “guided by the conclusions reached by the Panel, effective progress will be made in the investigation, thereby instilling public confidence in the legal system and helping to bring closure to this tragic chapter in the history of Ukraine”.

However, the investigation of the attack in Odessa has still achieved no results. Instead we see a lack of will and interest of the authorities in Kiev to conduct an independent and effective inquiry of the crimes. For five years none of those who burned the Trade Union House and murdered survivors has been brought to justice.