Foreign Ministry: Council of Europe adopts document to promote de-occupation of Crimea

12.05.2021 10:57

Ukrinform

The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopted a decision on the human rights situation in Crimea, which is currently occupied by the Russian Federation.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine welcomes the adoption of the Ukraine-initiated decision "Human Rights Situation in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol (Ukraine) by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on May 11, 2021," the press service of the Foreign Ministry informs.

According to the Ministry, the document condemns the occupation of the peninsula by the Russian Federation, which undermines the norms of international law and the principles of the Council of Europe, and underscores a significant violation of human rights in Crimea by the occupying power.

"The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe has reaffirmed its position on supporting the independence and sovereignty of our state and called on the Russian Federation to restore Ukraine's territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. The adoption of this decision confirmed that the issue of Crimea will continue to be in the focus of the increased attention of the Committee of Ministers as the main governing body of this Organization," the Foreign Ministry stressed.

As noted, the decision calls on Russia to release all illegally detained citizens of Ukraine, as well as to lift the illegal ban on the activities of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine added that the decision contained an appeal to the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights to monitor the situation on the occupied peninsula on an ongoing basis. The Secretary General of the Council of Europe is also expected to submit reports on the situation in Crimea to the Committee of Ministers at least once a year.

"In this context, there is a principled position that Russia must provide full and unimpeded access to the territory of the occupied Crimea for human rights mechanisms of the Council of Europe to monitor the situation in accordance with international law and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our state with due regard to the Ukrainian legislation and the status of Crimea as a temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine," the Foreign Ministry emphasized.

Ukrainian diplomats emphasize that this decision became already the second comprehensive document of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, which is devoted exclusively to the Crimean issue.

According to the Foreign Ministry, the adopted document strengthens the policy of the international community on non-recognition of the attempted annexation of Crimea and will promote, in particular, the implementation of the Ukrainian initiative to create the Crimean Platform, and in the future – the de-occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.

"Ukraine is grateful to the countries that supported the decision, which is a significant contribution of the Council of Europe to democratic security and stability on the European continent, as well as the protection of fundamental values and principles of this Organization: human rights, democracy, and the rule of law," the Ministry added.

First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Emine Dzheppar welcomed the decision adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

"The adopted decision intensifies the involvement of the Council of Europe in monitoring the human rights situation in the temporarily occupied Crimea, including that of the Secretary General and the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights," Dzheppar posted on Facebook.