EU again calls on Russia to release all Crimean political prisoners

The corresponding statement was made during a meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council on Thursday, March 11.

"We call for the immediate release of all women and men who were detained on the illegally annexed Ukrainian Crimean peninsula and convicted in violation of international law, including persons of Crimean Tatar origin," the EU delegation said.

The European Union recalled its "unwavering support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity and independence of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders" and called on Russia to act in the same way.

“We strongly condemn the gross violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity as a result of acts of aggression by the Russian armed forces since February 2014 and the illegal annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol to the Russian Federation, which we do not recognize. The European Union will remain committed to the full implementation of its policy of non-recognition, including through restrictive measures," the statement reads.

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