28th session of the UN Human Rights Council
Agenda item 3
Interactive dialogue with Special Rapporteur on minority issues
Intervention by Permanent Representative of Ukraine
Ambassador Yurii Klymenko
March 18, 2015
Mr. President,
At the outset I would like to welcomeSpecial Rapporteur on minority issuesMs. Rita Izhak and thank her for presentation of the reports.
We particularly commend outcome of the Special Rapporteur’s visit to Ukraine paid at the invitation of the Government.
Conducted at the early stage of occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea by the Russian Federation - under the far-fetched pretext of protection of linguistic and ethnic minorities–the visit shed much-needed light on the real state of affairs in safeguarding their rights in Ukraine.
I cannot but mention in this regard conclusions made by Special Rapporteur, I quote: «The overwhelming majority of those minority and other representatives whom I consulted in all locations visited described harmonious inter-ethnic and inter-faith relations and a legislative and policy and social environment generally conducive to the protection of their rights, including cultural and linguistic rights».
Along with other reputable reports, outcomes of the Special Rapporteur’s visit to my country contributed to creating objective and impartial picture of the situation on the ground.
Nowadays, one year since Crimea’s occupation, we are gravely concerned over the growing number of flagrant human rights violations, aggravated by the denial of access to the peninsula by the unlawful authorities forreputable international monitors.
Numerous facts of violations of rights of ethnic Ukrainians and the Crimean Tatar people,the indigenous community of Crimea, have been recorded. The atmosphere of fear, intimidation, physical and psychological pressure forces representatives of Crimean Tatars to take a difficult decision to leave their homes seeking a better life in mainland Ukraine.
Abductions and murders of Crimean Tatars are not properly investigated by the occupation authorities who banned entry to the Autonomous Republic of Crimea for the Crimean Tatar people leaders - Mustafa Dzhemiliyev and RefatChubarov.
The criminal prosecutions on false grounds, as was the case with the Deputy Chairman of the Mejlisof the Crimean Tatar people Akhtem Chiygoz, have been increasingly systematic in nature. From the moment of Crimea’s occupation more than 150 representatives of the Crimean Tatar people were illegally sentenced by the occupying authorities. All this takes place on the backdrop of an open interference in lawful activities of the Mejlis.
The situation with regard to ethnic Ukrainians is similar.
Ukrainian educational institutions are being closed all over the peninsula, now there are only 4 Ukrainian schools, but their future is doubtful.
Representatives of many religious communities also are subjects to constant harassment. There are persecutions of Muslims, crimes based on religious intolerance.
The representatives of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kiev Patriarchate are being persecuted. The Catholic Church reports the problems related to its registration. Representatives of the Baptist Church were forced to limit their traditional activity.
The number of public organizations on the peninsula has been dramatically reduced. Majority of pro-Ukrainian institutions were forced to cease their activities, growing pressure has been brought on mass media.
Besides we are deeply concerned over the so-called rule of the "automatic citizenship" which was so cynically applied by Russia to the residents of Crimea depriving them of their rights as Ukrainian citizens.
Russian authorities bear sole responsibility for all the cases of discrimination and xenophobia towards Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars.
And we call on the Special Rapporteur Rita Izhak to continue paying due attention to the worrying state of affairs in protection minorities’ rights on the territory of occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea.
Mr. President,
At the same time, threats and challenges we face nowadays only consolidate multinational Ukrainian society in its striving to build truly democratic statewhere every person, including representatives of minorities enjoys all the spectrum of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Ukraineis strongly committed to upholding its international human rights obligations and to continued cooperation with the Special procedures in line with the issued standing invitation.
And I am confident, findings and recommendations upon the results of your, Ms. Izhak, mission to Ukraine would help the Government of my country to appropriately improve protection of human rights of minorities.
I thank you.