Dzheppar calls on EU to expand sanctions against Russia for illegal ‘elections’ in Crimea

Dzheppar said this in her speech at the sixth meeting of the EU-Ukraine Association Committee, which was held via video conferencing, Ukrinform reports with reference to the press service of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry.

“The first deputy minister called for increased political and diplomatic pressure on the Russian Federation, in particular by expanding sanctions, in response to the organization of illegal “elections” by the Russian occupation authorities in the temporarily occupied territories of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol,” the report says.

Dzheppar informed about the violation of human rights by the Russian occupiers, in particular the persecution of political activists, representatives of national minorities and citizen journalists, illegal conscription into the Russian army, the change in the demographic situation in Crimea, and the like.

Separately, she noted the oppression of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine in Crimea. Dzheppar also drew attention to the doubling of the number of Russian troops in Crimea and the transportation of various types of weapons to the peninsula.

As part of the event, Dzheppar presented the Crimean Platform to European partners, thanked the EU for supporting this initiative, and expressed hope for the active participation of EU institutions and member states in its activities, as well as for the participation of EU leaders in the summit in May 2021.

As Ukrinform reported, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry condemned the illegal organization and holding of the so-called "elections" by the Russian Federation on September 13, 2020, in the temporarily occupied territories of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.

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