PACE considers suspending Ukraine's voting rights at April session if human rights violations continue
Brussels, January 29 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The PACE Monitoring Committee (Committee on the Honouring of Obligations and Commitments by Member States of the Council of Europe) has prepared a draft resolution on functioning of the democratic institutions in Ukraine.
The committee in the resolution, which has been posted on the committee's Web site, expressed its deep concern concerning the escalating violence by both sides at the Euromaidan protests, called for dialogue for a peaceful solution, and threatened to suspend the voting rights of Ukrainian delegation at the April 2014 session if grave human rights violations continue.
In particular, the monitoring committee "expresses its deep concern about the political crisis that has ensued in Ukraine following the surprise decision of the Ukrainian authorities to suspend the procedure of the signing of an Association Agreement, including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area agreement, with the European Union. It strongly condemns the escalating violence at the Euromaidan protests, which has already resulted in at least three fatalities," the project reads.
In this respect, the committee is concerned about "both the violent provocations by far right-wing protesters, as well as the excessive and disproportionate use of violence by the police against protesters."
"The committee therefore calls on the authorities to refrain from any attempts to forcefully break up the protest rallies and camps and protesters to refrain from any violence or actions that are clearly aimed at provoking a violent reaction from the other side," reads a resume made by the committee.
Moreover, the committee expressed its regret over the adoption "of the so-called 'anti-protest laws' package by the Verkhovna Rada on 16 January 2014, in chaotic circumstances that undermine their legitimacy, and their subsequent enactment by President Yanukovych on January 18, 2014" and called for their immediate repeal.
Besides, the committee stated that the violence and human rights violations should be brought to an immediate halt, while open and effective negotiations should be started to reach an agreement on a solution to the rapidly escalating crisis.
In the view of the Monitoring Committee, such an agreement should be based on pledges by both sides not to use violence, the immediate repeal of the so-called anti-protest laws and the immediate start of an open, serious and effective dialogue "between those in power and the political and civil forces united in the Euromaidan protests about the future democratic direction and geopolitical alignment of the country."
In total the draft resolution contains 13 items. The special attention should be drawn to the paragraphs that have not been included in the summary made by the committee.
Thereby item No. 2 said that it is for the Ukrainian people – and only them – to decide, free from foreign interference, about the geopolitical orientation of the country and which international agreements and communities Ukraine should join.
"The question of whether or not to sign an Association Agreement with the European Union is for the Ukrainian people alone to answer. At the same time, the Assembly considers that such important decisions as the geopolitical direction of a country should be made on the basis of an as wide a political consensus as possible between the different political forces in the country and on the basis of extensive consultation with the population," the draft resolution says.
Item No. 4 covers pressure of Russia on the Ukrainian state. In this respect, the Assembly wishes to remind the Russian Federation of its accession commitment 'to denounce as wrong the concept of two different categories of foreign countries, whereby some are treated as zone of special influence called 'the near abroad' and refrain from promoting the geographical doctrine of zones of 'privileged interest'," the document reads.
Item No 5 of the draft resolution draws attention to the statements of the Ukrainian authorities that foreign criticism of their handling of the Euromaidan protests amounts to foreign interference in their internal affairs.
"In this respect, the Assembly wishes to underscore that, as a member of the Council of Europe, Ukraine is obliged to maintain the highest standards with regard to democracy, the protection of human rights and the rule of law. In addition, Ukraine is signatory to, inter alia, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Any violations of human rights and any developments that could undermine the proper functioning of democratic institutions can therefore not be considered domestic affairs stricto sensu and are legitimate areas for concern or criticism from other countries, especially from other Council of Europe member States," the committee told the Ukrainian party.
Items Nos. 7 and 8 of the document are devoted to the incidences of violence, including the torture and maltreatment of protesters by the police. In the view of the Assembly, a full, transparent and impartial investigation into the outbreaks of violence and the violations of human rights, is essential for a negotiated peaceful solution to the political crisis. The assembly equally "expressed concern about reports that journalists are specifically targeted by the security forces, in contradiction of the principle of freedom of the media."
In item No. 11 of the draft resolution the Assembly reminded the Ukrainian authorities about several far-reaching reform packages announced by them earlier, and said that the authorities should maintain their political will and commitment to implement these reforms.
In the last but one item, the assembly warned Ukraine's parliament about the possibility of suspending the voting rights of the Ukrainian delegation at the opening of the April 2014 part-session if the grave human rights violations continue or if the authorities decide to break up the Maidan protests by force.
