10:09 08.12.2017

Chiygoz, Umerov call on OSCE ministers to continue pressure on Russia

2 min read
Chiygoz, Umerov call on OSCE ministers to continue pressure on Russia

The event dedicated to the human rights situation in the occupied Crimea was held on Thursday, December 7, on the sidelines of the OSCE Ministerial Council meeting in Vienna on Ukraine's initiative, the press service of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has reported.

The deputy heads of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, Akhtem Chiygoz and Ilmi Umerov, who have recently been released from Russian imprisonment, were invited to this event. They called on the ministers to continue international pressure on Russia in order to end its aggressive and repressive policy against Ukraine and its citizens, regardless of their ethnicity.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin, in turn, noted the importance of further consolidation of international efforts aimed at ending Russian aggression against Ukraine and ensuring de-occupation of Crimea. He said that one of these steps should be the adoption of another UN General Assembly resolution "Situation of human rights in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol," which is expected in the coming days.

According to Klimkin, another direction of activity could be the Ukraine-proposed international platform, which would promote the goals of de-occupation of Crimea.

Representatives of European countries, the United States and Canada expressed support and solidarity with citizens living in Crimea under Russian occupation and the intention to continue joint efforts for de-occupation of Crimea.

"It was noted that sanctions against Russia should remain in place until Russia stops armed aggression against Ukraine and returns Crimea. Therefore, the Crimean issue will remain among the priorities on the international agenda, including as part of the OSCE as an international security organization," the report says.

The subject of Ukrainian political prisoners illegally held by the Russian authorities both in the occupied Crimea and in Russia was separately considered at this event. The participants noted the importance of informing a wide audience abroad about Ukrainians held behind bars and increasing political pressure on Russia.

"Russia's strengthening the attack on human rights should lead to the strengthening of sanctions. This is effective," Klimkin said.

According to the ministry's press service, the event was attended by the foreign ministers of Canada, Sweden, Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine, Estonia, as well as high representatives of the United States, Turkey, Britain, Poland, Romania, Denmark, and Norway.

AD
AD
AD
AD
AD