Ukraine at OSCE condemns Putin's ‘land’ decree, conscription in Crimea

"In recent weeks, we have seen a series of disturbing events in the Crimean peninsula, temporarily occupied by Russia. The most provocative ones have been the imposition of a ban on land ownership in coastal areas for Ukrainian citizens who now lose their land plots, which were legally acquired prior to the occupation, and yet another illegal conscription of Crimeans for military service being a gross violation of international law," Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the International Organizations in Vienna Yevhenii Tsymbaliuk said during the first online meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council on Thursday, April 23, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

The Ukrainian diplomat recalled that the mandate of OSCE SMM in Ukraine covered the entire territory of Ukraine, including the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.

"We thank the Mission for monitoring the checkpoints between Kherson region and the Crimean peninsula. At the same time, we are still convinced that this is not enough," Tsymbaliuk said.

According to him, the SMM should join other OSCE structures which cover the situation in Crimea.

"We once again urge the SMM to conduct a remote monitoring of the human rights situation in Crimea, using, in particular, the methodology provided by the UN," the Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the International Organizations in Vienna said.

As reported, on March 20, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree which bans stateless people residing in the Russian Federation from owning land plots in the coastal areas of the occupied Crimea.

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