ROSTOV-ON-DON. June 4 (Interfax) - The Russian Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case on crimes against humanity into events ongoing in southeastern Ukraine, Russian presidential children's rights commissioner Pavel Astakhov said.
"I've just spoken on the phone with [Investigative Committee chief] Alexander Bastrykin, and he told me that a criminal case had been opened into crimes against humanity in the southeast of Ukraine," Astakhov told journalists on Wednesday.
Talking to Ukrainian refugees at a camp in the Rostov region, Astakhov encouraged them to give evidence. "Investigators will come here soon to document these facts, and they will be laid into the foundation of an indictment," Astakhov said.
He also suggested that a state of emergency should be imposed on all municipalities bordering Ukraine, including in the Rostov, Belgorod, and Voronezh regions.
"I talked today with the Rostov region governor [Vasily Golubev], and we came to the conclusion that a state of emergency should be imposed on the municipalities bordering Ukraine," he said.
"A state of emergency will be imposed on 15 border municipalities, and I think this measure should be taken in the municipalities in the Voronezh and Belgorod regions bordering Ukraine," he added.
The opening of humanitarian corridors on the Ukrainian side is the most problematic issue now, he said.
Again referring to his telephone talk with Bastrykin, Astakhov said the Russian Investigative Committee chief planned to personally address his Ukrainian counterpart to discuss the opening of such corridors.
Over 7,000 refugees from Ukraine have entered the Rostov region through 20 checkpoints last night alone, he said.
Astakhov confirmed reports that the personnel of a Ukrainian border guard outpost with their families attempted to cross the Ukrainian border. "If their attempt is successful, we will receive all of them, including border guards," he said.