33^rd session of the UN Human Rights Council

Agenda item 3

Clustered interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples and the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous People

Intervention by the Permanent Representative of Ukraine Ambassador Yurii Klymenko

September 20, 2016

Mr. President,

We welcome conducting this dialogue with both the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples and EMRIP, as Ukraine is extremely concerned over the systematic violation of the fundamental human rights and freedoms of Crimean Tatars, recognized in Ukraine as indigenous people, by the Russian occupying authorities of Crimea.

From the very beginning of the illegal occupation of the peninsula, Crimean Tatars have been subjected to abductions, illegal detentions and imprisonments; they have continued to experience severe limitations in the freedom of speech, religion, assembly and association. Any democratic manifestations have been interpreted as extremist actions; numerous representatives of the Crimean Tatar people have been prohibited to entry the territory of the peninsula – their native land.

One of the most outrageous cases, lately happened, was the detention of the Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis of Crimean Tatars Ilmi Umerov who was placed in the psychiatric clinic last month – and deprived of his life-essential medications – after being charged with separatism for making public statement denying that Crimea was a part of Russia – the statement, which is in full conformity with the General Assembly resolution 68/262. Unfortunately, this case is just one in the series proving the existence of real threats to life for the Crimean Tatars from the occupying authorities.

We continue to insist that the Russian Federation must allow full and unimpeded access to Crimea for the international human rights mechanisms, including for special procedures on the indigenous people.

Thank you.