International Crimea Platform reaffirms commitment to Ukraine’s territorial integrity

This is stated in a joint declaration issued on the occasion of the Day of Resistance to the Occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol, according to Ukrinform.

“On this Day, we honor the courage and resilience of the citizens of Ukraine who have been resisting on the temporarily occupied territory for twelve years, express our solidarity with them, and reaffirm our unity and determination to continue coordinating international efforts to preserve Ukraine’s sovereignty and restore its territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, including territorial sea,” the statement reads.

The participants of the International Crimea Platform stressed that they would never recognize the results of any illegal so-called ‘elections’ organized by the Russian occupation administration in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and continue to adhere to their commitment not to recognize the legality of a situation created as a result of a serious violation of peremptory norms of international law.

They strongly condemned the ongoing aggression of the Russian Federation and related crimes, emphasizing that the restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity will be a decisive step toward achieving a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace for Ukraine.

The authors of the statement also demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners and persons illegally detained by the Russian Federation, as well as the protection of their rights to physical and mental health, due process guarantees, and a fair trial.

As reported, Ukraine marks February 26 as the Day of Resistance to the Occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol – a commemorative date established in honor of the mass pro-Ukrainian rally held in Simferopol in 2014.