34^stsession of the UN Human Rights Council

Agenda item 4

General debate

 

March 14, 2017

 

Mr. President,

Despite the repeated calls by Ukraine and the international community demanding the immediate release of the illegally detained and sentenced Ukrainians, the Russian leadership continues its shameful practice of using Ukrainians as hostages of its aggressive policy against my country.

Russia continues to ignore its obligations under the Minsk agreements on the exchange of hostages and illegally detained persons by the principle "all for all". At least 17 Ukrainians are being kept under politically motivated reasons in the Russian territory. Even more of them are arbitrarily arrested and detained in the occupied Crimea. Over a hundred Ukrainians are being kept in appalling conditions by the Russian-terrorist forces in the occupied parts of Donbas.

Russia continues unmotivated rejections of appeals of Ukrainian consuls on granting permits to visit the Ukrainian political prisoners. There is evidence of systematic implementation of torture and psychological pressure towards the citizens of Ukraine, held in Russia and the occupied territories.

We call on the UN member states to take further steps to increase pressure on the Russian Federation on the grounds of severe violations by it of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and a number of other human rights treaties.

 

Thank you, Mr. President.