ZMINA spoke about human rights violations in occupied Crimea during the UN Human Rights Council

In an address to foreign diplomats, Yevheniia Filipenko, the Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN emphasized that Crimea has turned into a black hole – a place where people are deprived of basic rights and freedoms, persecuted for resisting the occupiers. However, all violations can and should end with the complete deoccupation of Crimea. This is why Ukraine, together with the participants of the international Crimea platform, continues to use all diplomatic means to return Crimea to Ukraine.

The Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic, Václav Bálek, noted that the Czechs have experienced similar tragic events in their history; in particular due to Russian imperialism. It is because of this they understand what Ukraine is fighting against and are ready to support the de-occupation of Ukrainian territories within its internationally recognized borders:

“The Czech Republic has always raised the issue of Crimea’s fate at the international level and hosted the 2nd parliamentary summit of the International Crimean Platform in Prague. We cannot allow it to be forgotten or, even worse, for Crimea to become the subject of certain “concessions or compromises.” Justice and international law will be restored, and Crimea will return to Ukraine, for one reason only – Crimea is Ukraine.”

The ZMINA Project Manager, Viktoria Nesterenko emphasized that the issue of releasing political prisoners and all citizens of Ukraine illegally imprisoned by Russia should be a strategic goal, as well as ending the war and liberating the occupied territories; particularly Crimea. However, the discussions regarding the complete liberation of the territory and the liberation of the people to whom this territory belongs are permanently interlinked. Currently, there are 218 Crimean political prisoners, including 132 Crimean Tatars, who are illegally transferred to the territory of the Russian Federation; they are tortured and denied medical care.

According to Artem Oliinyk from Crimea SOS, the Russian occupation regime massively persecutes the residents of Crimea on religious grounds – Jehovah’s Witnesses, Muslims and parishioners of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church are under attack:

“Russia sees in the religious communities of Crimea the most dangerous phenomenon for its regime – free associations, a civil society independent of the political center with its own values ​​and intentions. Such centers of self-organization resist harsh state intervention and have greater authority over people than official institutions of government.“

Fevzi Mamutov, whose brother faces up to 17 years in prison on trumped-up charges, addressed the audience: “My brother, Ali Mamutov, is now behind bars as a political prisoner. His fate is a sentence for our entire family and our people because there are hundreds of people like him. These are innocent people who have become victims of a repressive machine that has nothing to do with justice. Ali is not a criminal, he is a symbol of our struggle for freedom and dignity. He, like many other of our brothers and sisters, always defended people’s rights, their dignity, their right to be free in their native land. But that’s exactly what he’s being punished for.“

In addition, the mother of political prisoner Appaz Kurtamet recorded a video message. She said that Appaz is the youngest Ukrainian political prisoner whom Russia illegally sentenced to 7 years in prison for “financing terrorism.” He lent 500 hryvnias to his fellow student who served in the Armed Forces, which became a “pretext” for the boy’s arrest. As of today, he is being held at the “Vladimir Central” detention facility.

The First Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, Nariman Dzhelyal, who spent three years in Russian prison and was recently released, shared his testimony of his stay behind Russian bars. Nariman emphasized that one of the most common violations of prisoners’ rights is the failure to provide medical care and he emphasized the need to release political prisoners who are currently serving the harshest sentences. Torture against those in captivity is one of the methods of humiliation, punishment and attempts to make resistance impossible.

The event speakers urged those present to mention the names of political prisoners in statements, call for their release, monitor their condition in detention and provide medical assistance, write letters to them and become their mentors, impose sanctions against those involved in persecution and violation of people’s rights in the occupied territories, and also attend courts of Ukrainian citizens on the territory of the Russian Federation.

For reference: At least three sessions of the UN Human Rights Council are held during the year and is facilitated by its 47 member states. The main objective of the Council is the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms on a fair and equal basis, as well as the effective coordination and integration of activities related to human rights within the UN system. On April 7, 2022, the UN General Assembly suspended Russia’s membership in the Human Rights Council due to gross and systematic violations of human rights following the invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops.

Photo: Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the UN in Geneva and Human Rights Centre ZMINA