Madame High Commissioner, thank you for the presentation of your report. 

Yesterday you reminded us that there was no peace without human rights. Fully sharing this view, I would stress that human rights are in danger where there is no peace. My country, Ukraine, where parts of its territory are occupied by the Russian Federation, in particular, has been feeling this every day since February 2014.   

For five years in a row, the Ukrainian people have been living amid the longest hot conflict in Europe in modern history that has already killed 13 thousand people, wounded 30 thousand, and forced 1.5 mln to leave their homes and become IDPs. All human rights and fundamental freedoms, including right to life, liberty and security of person, continue to be trampled upon by Russia. Casualties are mounting.

In attempt to hide their violations and crimes, the Russian occupying authorities deny access for international monitors, including the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission.

From the occupied Crimea, we continue to receive disturbing news on grave human rights violations, among which are searches, intimidation, severe restrictions of freedom of movement, speech, assembly and religion, and other abuses. An atmosphere of fear is prevalent in every corner of the peninsula.

Because of these internationally wrongful acts of the Russian Federation and of others mentioned in your report, who persist in ignoring the rule of law, abusing human rights and freedoms and violating international humanitarian law, people in many parts of the world cannot feel safe and protected. 

Immediate steps should be taken to stop the aggressor, to make it respect human rights and the rule of law, and to bring the perpetrators to justice. 

We are looking forward to a genuine, mutually reinforcing cooperation with the OHCHR as well as to High Commissioner’s next oral update on Ukraine on March 19. 

We are also looking forward to welcoming the High Commissioner in Ukraine in the near future.

I thank you.

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