The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, reiterated on Monday 16 March that 6 years after Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol, the EU still condemned it as a “violation of international law”.
This annexation “remains a direct challenge to international security, with serious implications for the international legal order that protects territorial integrity, unity and sovereignty of all States”, the High Representative emphasised in a lengthy statement on behalf of the EU.
The European Union is therefore determined to fully implement its policy of non-recognition, including through the employment of restrictive measures (see EUROPE 12279/21), warns Mr Borrell, who notes that the EU did not recognise—nor will do in the future—the holding of elections by Russia on the Crimean peninsula (see EUROPE 12323/18). The High Representative reiterated his call for UN Member States to consider non-recognition measures similar to those of the EU, in accordance with UN General Assembly Resolution 68/262.
In his statement, Mr Borrell provided an update on the situation in the Crimea from a military, economic and human rights perspective. He therefore denounced the “increasing militarisation of the peninsula” and the imposition on Crimean residents of Russian citizenship and conscription into the Russian armed forces “in violation of international humanitarian law”.
Furthermore, the EU has once again condemned the construction of the Kerch Bridge without the consent of Ukraine (see EUROPE 12021/26), which is part of the “forced” integration of the peninsula with Russia, and is calling on Russia to ensure the free passage of all vessels through the Strait of Kerch to, and from, the Sea of Azov in accordance with international law.
The human rights situation on the peninsula has deteriorated considerably since the annexation, including the rights of Tatars, and this is also a source of concern to the head of European diplomacy. It calls for full compliance with international human rights standards, including an end to pressure placed on the Tatar community, and an in-depth investigation of human rights violations and abuses. Regional and international human rights actors must be able to have unhindered access to the Crimea and Sevastopol, Borrell added. The High Representative also called for the release of all persons detained on the Crimean peninsula and convicted in violation of international law.
Finally, according to Mr Borrell, Russia must stop changing the demographic structure of the population by transferring its own civilian population into the peninsula.
See the statement: https://bit.ly/2xBnypk (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)