Three years after the illegal annexation of the Crimea and Sevastopol by Russia, which the EU continually condemns, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, noted on Friday 17 March that the situation in the Crimea had deteriorated over the past year.
‘Over the past year, the ongoing militarisation of the peninsula has continued to impact the security situation in the Black Sea region and the human rights situation in the Crimean peninsula has deteriorated further,’ she noted in a declaration. ‘The rights of the Crimean Tatars have been gravely violated through the shutting down of Crimean Tatar media outlets, the banning of the activities of the Mejlis, their self-governing body, and the persecution of its leaders. Lawyers such as Emil Kurbedinov and Mykola Polozov, defending the rights of Crimean Tatars and of those who do not recognise the illegal annexation of the peninsula, were themselves presented with criminal charges.’ ‘All pending cases of human rights violations such as enforced disappearances, torture and killings should be thoroughly investigated,’ added Mogherini, pointing out that it was crucial for international human rights activists to be able to freely gain unrestricted access to the Crimea and Sevastopol.
‘The European Union remains committed to fully implementing its non-recognition policy, including through restrictive measures,’ and repeated its call on United Nations’ countries to consider similar non-recognition. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)