43rd session of the UN Human Rights Council

Agenda item 10

Oral Update on Georgia

Intervention by the Delegation of Ukraine  

Madame President,

Ukraine reaffirms its strong support to the OHCHR for its lasting commitment to human rights all over the world and for its active cooperation and dialogue with States. The commitment of OHCHR to delivering much needed help to states is essential for improvement of human rights situations both nationally and globally.

Recognizing the vital role of the OHCHR’s technical assistance and capacity building, the Government of Ukraine closely cooperates with its Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, deployed since 2014 upon Government’s invitation in view of increasing challenges in the field of human rights in Crimea and Donbas due to Russia’s armed aggression.

Such monitoring contributes to preventing violations by Russia in the occupied territories by keeping the international community regularly informed of compliance by the occupying power with applicable international humanitarian law and human rights law.

Despite the calls of the international community, as evidenced by the UN General Assembly resolutions and ICJ provisional ruling, the occupying power continues its policy of non-cooperation – a pattern that affects a number of countries.

In this regard, we specifically note human rights challenges in the regions of Georgia occupied by Russia and, in this respect, strongly condemn the recent actions of the Russian occupation administration of Tskhinvali to resume the process of installing artificial barriers along the occupation line.

The deprivation of the Georgian population in the occupied territory of the right to move freely, to receive proper medical care, to have access to vital agricultural and water resources is an indisputable violation of international law and create additional threats against the backdrop of COVID-19 pandemic throughout the world.

Ukraine firmly reaffirms its support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders. We urge the Russian Federation to immediately cease the illegal activities in the occupied territories of Georgia, to provide full and unhindered access of the international monitoring organizations to the Georgian occupied territories and finally fulfil all its obligations under international law.

I thank you.