Joint Statement on human rights in Crimea

9/27/18
Joint statement on the human rights situation in temporarily occupied Crimea and unrestricted access for human rights monitoring mechanisms.
This statement is delivered on behalf of 40 countries.

We appreciate the work of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in delivering technical assistance. We reiterate that granting OHCHR full access to monitor and report on the situation on the ground is essential to providing such assistance. The Human Rights Monitoring Mission, deployed in Ukraine since March 2014 at the Government’s request, has been continually denied access to the temporarily occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, the status of which has been reaffirmed by UNGA resolution 68/262 as an integral part of Ukraine. OHCHR’s latest thematic report, pursuant to UNGA resolution 72/190, demonstrates the Russian Federation’s continuing non-cooperation with OHCHR and its failure as the Occupying Power to adequately respect its obligations under international human rights law and international humanitarian law. Russia has continued applying its legislation in Crimea, including by establishing on this territory constituencies for presidential elections and holding them on 18 March, contrary to its obligation under international humanitarian law to respect the laws in force in the occupied territory. We are concerned by the ongoing violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law detailed in the OHCHR report, including:

- Deportations and forcible transfers of protected persons outside the occupied territory;

- Transferring of parts of Russia’s own civilian population to Crimea;

- Torture and ill-treatment;

- Enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests and detention;

- Violations of the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, association, religion and movement;

- Forced conscription of Crimean residents into the Russian armed forces; and

- Arbitrary searches of private property, which disproportionately affect Crimean Tatars.

The situation needs to be improved urgently. The Russian Federation must uphold human rights in Crimea, respect its obligations as an Occupying Power under international humanitarian law, and grant full and unimpeded access to Crimea for international and regional monitoring mechanisms. We call on the Russian Federation to comply with its obligations under international law reaffirmed in UNGA resolutions 71/205 and 72/190, as well as with the Order of the International Court of Justice of 19 April 2017.

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