Michael O'Flaherty
Michael O'Flaherty is an Irish human rights lawyer who has served as Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe since 2016. Prior to that, he worked extensively at the European Court of Human Rights, directed the Irish Centre for Human Rights at the National University of Ireland, and served as a Special Adviser on human rights at the Council of Europe. He has also been active as an academic researcher in international human rights law.
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Ukraine appeals for evacuation from occupied Oleshky as Russia refuses local ceasefire
Ukraine is calling for immediate humanitarian access and the evacuation of civilians from occupied Oleshky in Kherson Oblast, where no formal food deliveries have reached the town since 26 May. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets say civilians are dying from lack of food, water and medicine and that those trying to leave on their own risk being killed, detained or blown up on mines. Ukraine says Russia has refused its proposal for a temporary halt in hostilities to allow a one-day evacuation via a land corridor.