HRHN’s statement comes two years after Russia’s occupation of Crimea, and shortly after HRHN marked the second anniversary of Euromaidan and called for Ukraine to ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

HRHN continues to monitor, raise awarness of, and call for an end to human rights violations in Crimea, most recently in the March 2016 policy brief Putting a Stop to Impunity: Human Rights Violations in Crimea, developed in cooperation with Freedom House.

Statement

Check against delivery

The Human Rights House Foundation welcomes the work and the report of the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU), as well as the High Commissioner’s latest report to the Human Rights Council.

This session of the UN Human Rights Council marks two years since Russia seized Government buildings in Crimea, and consequently occupied the Crimean peninsula.

The “Russianization” of Crimea and its justice system; a severe crackdown on civil society and perceived political opponents; and the arbitrary application of the law in Crimea conspire to create what is in effect a lawless zone where the de facto authorities wield near absolute power. Dissenting voices in Crimea are “effectively silenced and denied any public space, especially Crimean Tatars organizations which the de facto authorities consider non-loyal or claim to be extremist,” according to the HRMMU.

The de facto authorities continue to arrest Ukrainian citizens in Crimea and transfer them to the Russian Federation, in breach of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 68/262 on the territorial integrity of Ukraine. Crimean Tatars living in Crimea face abduction, harassment, persecution by the de facto authorities and face daily difficulties in accessing health services and social protection.

In February 2016, a Crimean so-called prosecutor requested that the Mejlis (the representative body of the Crimean Tatar people) be declared an extremist organisation and banned in Russia. If successful, such a move would threaten all Mejlis members with criminal prosecution under articles 280 (public calls for extremist activity), 282.1 (organization of an extremist group), 282.2 (organization of the activity of an extremist organization), and others. Conviction under these articles could bring imprisonment for up to 8 years.

We call upon the Russian Federation to honour the 50th anniversary of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and act on the conclusions delivered by the UN Human Rights Committee, following its review of Russia in March 2015, which call on Russia to investigate all allegations of human rights violations and ensure the exercise of freedom of expression and information in Crimea, including freedom to use the Internet, in accordance with the Russian Federation’s obligations.

Mr Chairperson,

Today, the population of Crimea are in fact double victims:

  • On one side Crimeans suffer from the occupation by Russia, and human rights abuses as a consequence
  • On the other side, their isolation is exacerbated by the policies adopted by Ukraine.

The Ukrainian authorities have significantly complicated access to Crimea – for foreign journalists and human rights monitoring initiatives.

The procedure to obtain a special entry permit to Crimea remains highly bureaucratic and complicated and puts foreign journalists and human rights defenders in a difficult position, in which they risk violating Ukrainian law in order to continue their important work.

The civilian blockade of Crimea, which began in September 2015, on the initiative of several Crimean Tatar leaders and Members of Ukraine’s parliament, including Mustafa Dzhemilev, Refat Chubarov, and Lenur Islyamov, has only aggravated the human rights situation in Crimea. Unlawful checkpoints were established, as well as unlawful searches of vehicles and identity documents, arrests, and damage to property.  The blockade organizers have also arrested and interrogated human rights defenders and journalists.

The impact of the trade embargo and the halt of electricity supplies on the population of Crimea caused widespread disruption, affecting daily life on the peninsula, notably food conservation, public transportation and economic activity. The human rights impact of the power outage has been most acute for people with limited mobility and low income.

As a matter of priority, we call upon the authorities of Ukraine to immediately facilitate access to Crimea for independent journalists, human rights defenders, and international monitors, including by requiring notification rather than authorization for their travel to Crimea. We further call upon Ukraine to do everything in its power to protect the rights of Crimeans, including their ability to access administrative services in Ukraine, access to good quality medicine, food and health services.

Thank you Mr Chairperson.

Documents: