31^stsession of the UN Human Rights Council

Agenda item 3

Clustered interactive dialogue with Special Rapporteur on Torture and

other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and Special

Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography 

Intervention by Permanent Representative of Ukraine

Ambassador Yurii Klymenko

 

March 8, 2016

 

Mr. President,

We welcome conducting this dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Torture, as Ukraine is extremely concerned over torture and ill-treatment being systematically used by occupying Russian authorities in Donbas and Crimea.

There are credible data documented, in particular in regular OHCHR Reports on the human rights situation in Ukraine, that Russia-backed illegal armed groups and self-proclaimed so called “authorities” enjoy a high level of impunity for illegal detention, torture and ill-treatment, targeting local residents, including Crimean Tatars and Ukrainian servicemen.

The Russian Federation also brutally violates the rights of the Ukrainian citizens being illegally detained and jailed in Russia by using tortures and ill-treatment towards them, in particular - M.Karpiuk and S.Klyh, illegal detention of whom for already over one year we regard as trumped up cases.

Mr. Mendez,

We paid due attention to your observations on communications, in particular with regard to Ukraine, which will be transferred to the relevant authorities for their proper consideration.

At the same time, we strongly believe that the situation in the occupied territories of Ukraine merits your attention. The report “Surviving hell - testimonies of victims on places of illegal detention in Donbas” that has been transferred for your consideration, could be useful in this context. Ukraine remains ready to provide you, should you find it necessary, with more information in this regard.

I thank you.

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