45th session of the UN Human Rights Council
Annual Panel on Rights of Indigenous Peoples: “Protection of indigenous human rights defenders”
Intervention by Delegation of Ukraine
September 23, 2020
Madame President,
The history of the Crimean Tatars – the largest indigenous community of Ukraine – is closely linked with the protection of human rights. Following their forced deportation from Crimea in 1944, the human rights movement of the Crimean Tatars has become a cornerstone of their aspiration to return to their native land.
As Crimea has turned into a territory of unfreedom following Russia’s occupation, many Crimean Tatars dedicated their efforts to documenting human rights violations, supporting their victims and making a day when the rule of law is restored closer . Their work is especially valuable in view of the continuing absence of access of international monitoring mechanisms to Crimea.
The policy of occupation authorities confirms that for Russia the difference between the notions of “human rights defender” and “extremist” is non-existent. Illustrative in this sense are reprisals against hundreds of Crimean Tatars arrested and detained on bogus charges of terrorism, extremism or espionage. Among them are a well-known human rights defender Emir-Usein Kuku who remains in Russian jail despite two UN General Assembly resolutions calling for his release, or Server Mustafayev, recognized by Amnesty International as a prisoner of conscience. A particular attention of special procedures mandate holders to all such cases is crucial.
Indigenous human right defenders are specifically targeted by occupation authorities. In 2019 alone, at least 500 cases of detention and interrogation of Crimean Tatars were reported, a significant portion of which were in relation to activists of «Crimean solidarity», a civil society organization supporting political prisoners and their families. Persecution of members of this organization continues until today.
We call on the international community to pay close attention to the situation with indigenous human rights defenders in Crimea and increase pressure on Russia to make it adhere to its human rights obligations as the occupying power.
I thank you.