46th session of the UN Human Rights Council
Agenda item 3
Interactive dialogue with Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief
Intervention by Ukraine
(Geneva, March 3, 2021)
Madam President,
Freedom of religion and belief is under severe attack in the territories of Ukraine illegally occupied by the Russian Federation, namely, the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol and certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The representatives of the majority of denominations in the occupied territories are deprived of religious pluralism and the realization of religious rights. The Orthodox Church of Ukraine is under growing pressure, while the Russian occupation authorities are claiming its property.
Over the seven years of the Russian occupation, the Crimean Tatar Muslims have become the most oppressed and persecuted religious community in Crimea.
The Russian occupying authorities, in need of pseudo-legal umbrella for its attacks on Crimean Muslims, have labelled them as terrorists and extremists and claim some Crimean Tatars to be members of Muslim religious organizations banned in Russia, but not in Ukraine.
In addition to that, the religious denominations to which the persecutions are applied are also the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, the Protestant churches, Roman Catholics, Jehovah’s Witnesses and others.
The occupying authorities have been conducting regularly purges on the basis of religion. The purpose of the occupying power is to control parishioners by confessions loyal to the Kremlin and shape a population that will be totally supportive of the Russian Government.
We urge the Russian Federation to stop immediately the oppressions of believers and provide them with enabling environment to realize their inalienable freedom of religion and belief.
I thank you.