Alena Lunova took part in a meeting with the European Parliament delegation at the Mission of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea

On 30 June 2026, the Mission of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea hosted a meeting with the European Parliament delegation to the EU–Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee.

Photo: Olha Kuryshko, Pekka Toveri, Vadym Halaichuk

The delegation was led by Pekka Toveri, Chair of the EU–Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee. The meeting brought together Ukrainian members of parliament, the leadership of the Mission of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, representatives of central government bodies and military administrations from the temporarily occupied territories and frontline regions, as well as representatives of civil society organisations. Alena Lunova, Advocacy Director at the Human Rights Centre ZMINA, also took part in the discussion.

During the meeting, participants discussed the functioning of state authorities and local self-government under temporary occupation, the protection of citizens’ rights, support for internally displaced people, preparations for the de-occupation of Ukrainian territories, and the role of state institutions in Ukraine’s European integration process.

Lunova presented an analytical report by the Human Rights Centre ZMINA on tools for safeguarding the rights and opportunities of internally displaced people and residents of Ukraine’s temporarily occupied territories in the context of the country’s European integration process.

Photo: Alena Lunova

She stressed the need to develop state policy that ensures equal access to rights for citizens affected by the temporary occupation and is aligned with the European Union’s human rights standards.

“Effectively addressing the challenges faced by Ukrainian citizens who remain in or have left the occupied territories is fully in line with the European Union’s principles and priorities. These issues therefore deserve a central place in Ukraine’s European integration process. It is important to us that they do not remain in the “blind spot” of the Ukrainian authorities and our international partners. We therefore propose establishing a mechanism – or platform – to analyse and share information with our EU partners on the situation in the occupied territories and the protection of the rights of Ukrainian citizens“, Lunova said.

Participants also discussed the need to increase sanctions pressure on Russia, document and raise international awareness of crimes committed in Ukraine’s temporarily occupied territories, establish effective compensation mechanisms for victims, and hold those responsible accountable.

Members of the European Parliament reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine, expressed solidarity with the Ukrainian people, and stressed the importance of continued cooperation throughout the European integration process.

The event was organised by the Mission of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea with the support of the Partnership Fund for a Resilient Ukraine programme, funded by the governments of Canada, Estonia, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Photo credit: Mission of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.