US calls on Russia to stop repressions in Crimea

The United States calls on Russia to immediately stop the politically motivated persecutions and repressions in the occupied Crimea and to release political prisoners.

Harry Kamian, the Chargé d’ Affaires, a.i., to the U.S. Mission to the OSCE said this at the OSCE Permanent Council meeting on Thursday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"The United States again calls upon Russia to stop repressive actions in the occupied Crimea and return control over the peninsula to Ukraine," Kamian stressed.

He also welcomed the release of Akhtem Chiygoz and Ilmi Umerov, who were unlawfully convicted in connection with their opposition to attempts of annexation of Crimea.

"We once again urge the Russian Federation to stop the ongoing campaign of politically motivated lawsuits against the Mejlis and to release dozens of imprisoned Ukrainian political prisoners," the US diplomat said.

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