A panel discussion of the ministerial level “The Human Rights Situation in Crimea and the Ukrainian Hostages of the Kremlin” was held at the Geneva Palace of Nations on the margins of the High Level Segment of the 43rd session of the UN Human Rights Council.

The heads of foreign ministries of Ukraine V.Prystaiko, Latvia E. Rinkēvičs, Lithuania L. Linkevičius and Poland J. Czaputowicz, as well as former political hostages of the Kremlin V. Balukh and E. Bekirov addressed the audience of representatives of the diplomatic corps and international human rights community.

The discussion demonstrated an unwavering support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, the need to further counter grave human rights violations by the occupying administration of Crimea and to pursue the release of all Ukrainian hostages held in Russian prisons for political reasons. The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine highlighted a vital necessity to establish an international platform to address the issue of Crimea.