SECTION 2. 1, 2013 the Ombudsman provided the Parliament Members and mass media with initial information on the outcomes of the relevant proceedings. She also stressed the necessity of strict respect of the right to legal assistance, since the visit of the detainees of December 1 showed that legal assistance was provided not to everyone and not in full scale. The Ombudsman also announced the need in special medical treatment of detainees (particularly of eye disorders) and in special medication. On December 3, 2013 the Ombudsman sent an official letter to the Minister of Internal Affairs V. Zakharchenko and drew his attention to the necessity of compliance with the Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials as adopted at the Eighth United Nations Congress, specifically: “4. Law enforcement officials, in carrying out their duty, shall, as far as possible, apply non-violent means before resorting to the use of force and firearms. They may use force and firearms only if other means remain ineffective or without any promise of achieving the intended result. 5. Whenever the lawful use of force and firearms is unavoidable, law enforcement officials shall: (a) Exercise restraint in such use and act in proportion to the seriousness of the offence and the legitimate objective to be achieved; (b) Minimize damage and injury, and respect and preserve human life; 37 On the night of December 11, 2013 the law enforcement tried to force the participants of peaceful actions out of the territory of the Maidan (Independence Square). In order to ensure prompt response to possible violations of human rights and freedoms the Ombudsman and a group of NPM Department staff arrived at the Maidan around 5.00 AM. On the grounds of available information about apprehensions of protesters NPM Department employees carried out monitoring visits to a number of district police stations and some medical establishments of Kyiv, as well as the temporary holding facility. It was found that nine persons apprehended on Independence Square had been brought to Shevchenkivsky District police station. At the time of arrival of NPM staff one of the detainees was taken away by the ambulance for immediate hospitalization because of received injuries. The other eight protesters were documented as administrative offenders under Art. 173 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of Ukraine and were held at the police station for over three hours. On the demand of the Ombudsman’s representatives the detained were released under the obligation to appear at Shevchenkivsky District Court for an administrative hearing. It was also found that four persons had applied for medical assistance to the Romodanov Institute of Neurosurgery but refused hospitalization after receiving ambulatory help. (c) Ensure that assistance and medical aid are rendered to any injured or affected persons at the earliest possible moment; Another round of confrontation occurred on January 19, 2014, with the start of clashes between the protesters and police in Hrushevskoho Street. As a result dozens of people were injured on both sides. (d) Ensure that relatives or close friends of the injured or affected person are notified at the earliest possible moment.” On that very day the Ombudsman called on both conflicting sides to immediately cease any use of force.