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29th session of the UN Human Rights Council
Agenda item 4 General Debate
Statement by Permanent Representative of Ukraine
Ambassador Yurii Klymenko
June 24, 2015
Mr. President,
The Delegation of Ukraine has to once again draw the attention of the Council to the continuing neglecting by the Russian Federation of its commitments under Minsk Agreements, in particular concerning abducted from the territory of Ukraine, unlawfully transferred across the Ukrainian-Russian border and further illegally detained in Russia on trumped-up charges Ukrainian citizens including the Ukrainian Parliament’s member and PACE’ delegate Nadiya Savchenko, known Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov and other Ukrainians openly expressing their protest against Russian aggression and illegal occupation of Crimea.
We reiterate that the provisions of Minsk agreements regarding the release of all hostages and illegally detained persons on the basis of “all for all” principle apply to the Ukrainian citizens illegally detained on the Russian territory who suffer from injustice and ill-treatment.
Ukraine is deeply concerned over the recent statements by Oleg Sentsov’s defence lawyer about the use of physical violence and torture against his client to obtain testimony, before the Ukrainian filmmaker was transferred to the Lefortovo prison. These illegal practices constitute a flagrant breach of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
We urge the Russian side to stop torture and ill-treatment of illegally detained Ukrainian citizens, as well as to allow unhindered access of Ukrainian consular officials to their places of detention.
Ukraine calls upon the international community to make the Russian Federation to strictly abide by the norms and principles of international law and the Minsk agreements and to immediately release Nadiya Savchenko, Oleg Sentsov and other Ukrainian citizens that are illegally detained in Russia, as well as to ensure their safe return to Ukraine.
I thank you.