28thsession of the UN Human Rights Council
Agenda item 3
Interactive dialogue with Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief
Intervention by the representative of Ukraine
(March 10, 2015)
Thank you, Mr. President,
My delegation welcomes the report of the Special Rapporteur and would like to touch upon the situation with freedom of religion or belief in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea temporarily occupied and illegally annexed by the Russian Federation.
In Crimea limitations are imposed on the freedom of religion or belief due to restrictive registration requirements. Forcefully imposed Russian law requires religious communities and civil society organizations to register by the end of March this year as a pre-condition for opening a bank account, renting premises or inviting foreign citizens.
Non-registration of the Roman Catholic Church in Crimea has led to the departure of a Polish priest and nuns of respective parish in Simferopol. 23 Turkish imams residing in Crimea under a 20-year-old programme with the Crimean Tatar Mejlis had to leave due to non-registration of Mejlis under Russian law.
Persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyiv Patriarchate began year ago with seizure of the churches. Many Ukrainian priests were forced to leave Crimea.
Administration of Simferopol requires Crimea Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyiv Patriarchate to return a plot of land allocated for permanent use for the construction of the Cathedral. This territory is now reportedly planned to be used for construction of houses for employees of a Russian secret service agency.
Overall situation alongside with police raids on places of worship seriously questions the commitment of the so-called “authorities” in Crimea to the protection of the right to freedom of religion or belief.
We would appreciate hearing your possible views on how human rights mechanisms could be involved in order to address the situation.
Thank you.