31st session of the UN Human Rights Council

Agenda item 4

General debate

 

Intervention by Permanent Representative of Ukraine

Ambassador Yurii Klymenko

March 15, 2016

 

Mr. President,

We would like to draw the attention to ungrounded criminal prosecutions by the Russian Federation of Ukrainian citizens abducted from Ukraine and illegally detained in Russia, in violation of its international obligations and Minsk commitments.

The Russian court continues its politically motivated proceeding, ignoring ample evidence of the innocence of Nadiya Savchenko and her diplomatic immunities as PACE member. The postponement of the Court decision on hunger-striking Nadiya until March 21 and denying her the right to be attended by Ukrainian Consuls, doctors and family members we perceive as illegal and inhumane actions of the Russian Federation, its intentional and cynical reprisal and deliberate creating the life-threatening circumstances for Nadiya.

The situation of Ukrainian citizens Oleg Sentsov, Oleksandr Kolchenko, Mykola Karpyuk, Stanislav Klykh and other political prisoners illegally detained in Russia continues to gravely deteriorate. Repressive measures towards them increase, including torture and other ill-treatment, reports of which remain ignored by the Russian authorities.

Against this backdrop and taking into account shrinking space for human rights defenders and NGOs very alarming is Russia’s significant departure from the recognized international norms and standards, especially the law enabling Russian Constitutional court to overthrow decisions of the European Court of Human Rights. The intention to close the OHCHR presence in Moscow is recent worrying development in this vein.  

We urge Russia to comply with its legal obligations and political commitments, immediately and unconditionally release all Ukrainian citizens and ensure respect for international law.

Thank you.