Warsaw condemns Russia's occupation of Crimea

26.07.2018 12:00

Ukrinform

Warsaw, together with international partners, condemns Russia's occupation of Crimea and supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, calling on other UN member states not to recognize Russia's illegal actions in Ukraine.

The Polish Foreign Ministry issued a respective statement on July 25.

"Through its illegal annexation of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol in 2014, Russia undermined the basic principle of international law shared by all States: that no country can change the borders of another by force," the ministry said.

According to the statement, by signing international instruments, in particular the Helsinki Final Act of 1975 and then the Budapest Memorandum of 1994, Russia pledged not to use force against the territorial integrity of other states, in particular against Ukraine.

"Recalling the univocal condemnation by the European Council of the violations by Russia of Ukrainian sovereignty, emphasizing the support to political independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine and joining the U.S. Crimea Declaration announced on 25 July 2018, Poland refuses to recognize Russia's claims of sovereignty over territory seized by force in contravention of international law," reads the document.

It notes that in concert with its allies and partners, Poland rejects Russia's attempted illegal annexation of Crimea and pledges to maintain this position until Ukraine's territorial integrity is restored.

The Polish Foreign Ministry also draws attention to the continuing deterioration of the human rights situation in Crimea.

"Residents of the peninsula face systematic restrictions of fundamental rights, such as freedom of expression, religion or belief and association, and the right to peaceful assembly. We call on Russia to respect international law containing the principles to which it has long claimed to adhere and to end its occupation of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol," reads the declaration.

The ministry also urged UN member states "to respect international law principle of non-recognition of illegal conduct and act in line with the UNGA Resolution 68/262 [concerning the territorial integrity of Ukraine]."

Earlier, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo issued a statement, titled "Crimea Declaration," stating that the United States does not recognize Russia's claims of sovereignty over occupied Crimea and accuses it of undermining international principles of peace and security.