“Crimean Tatars are facing similar treatment as their parents did when they were deported during Soviet times. Issue of languages and nationality are just a bluff by Russia in Crimea” said Chubarov, and called for a permanent international mission to prevent worsening of an already dramatic situation on the ground.
At the event several ukrainian human rights defenders discussed the current situation in their country. The panelists, in addition to Chubarov, were Valeriya Lutkovska, Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, Olga Skrypnyk from “Almenda” Civic Education Center and Oleksandra Matviichuk from the Center for Civil Liberties.
They focused especially on the situation in Crimea in view of the recent one-year anniversary of the so-called referendum, which has been used by Russia to legitimise its control over the peninsula. Whereas the vast majority of the international community considers the annexation as illegal.The picture given by the speakers’ interventions translates the dire situation of a territory where the arbitrariness of the occupant power, coupled with the total absence of any international monitoring, have caused a rise in abuses of various kinds. Both ethnic and linguistic minorities are severely targeted despite the guarantees given by Russia.
Attacks on journalists
Freedom of expression remains one of the main worries, as it is extremely difficult for independent voices to manifest themselves without the risk of repercussions and any other sources than the mainstream ones are being silenced.
”There are no Ukrainian TV channels left in Crimea. Attacks on both Ukrainian and international journalists are a clear sign of violations of freedom of expression”, said Olga Skrypnyk. The four remaining Ukrainian schools are facing an uncertain future and all textbooks are printed in Russian.
Investigation of crimes in East
Lawlessness in the eastern regions of Ukraine, under the control of the separatist forces, makes human rights violations even more frequent and severe. In the territory held by armed forces affiliated with the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR), beatings, targeted killings, torture and abduction are reported regularly.
“Russia should investigate crimes by its citizens in Donbass, such as actions organised by Igor Girkin. An international control of the border between Russia and Ukrain is necessary at this point to prevent further violations”, urges Oleksandra Matviichuk.
