Sades of the State Department

The Russian authorities directly or indirectly contributed to numerous violations of human rights both in Russia itself and in Ukraine. About this in the report of the US State Department on the observance of human rights in the world last year.

Russia continues to support and supply the pro -Russian separatists in the Donbass and thereby bears responsibility for the death of "thousands of civilians", as well as violations of the rights of citizens of Ukraine, including in the annexed Crimea, the document says. These actions, among other things, contribute to a deterioration in the situation with human rights in Russia itself.

The report states the restrictions on freedom of speech, assembly and printing in Russia. "The authorities adopted repressive laws and selectively applied the existing legislation for intimidation, discrediting, judicial persecution, conclusion, detention, fines and suppression of individuals and organizations critical to the authorities," emphasized the government as a special goal of the person and organization who supported the Russian authorities and opposing the actions of the Russian authorities in Ukraine. "

This is the first document of this kind, published under the new US administration.

On February 15, US President Donald Trump said his predecessor Barack Obama showed excessive softness towards Russia on the issue of the annexation of Crimea. "Crimea was taken by Russia under the Obama administration. Was it not too soft towards Russia?" - wrote Trump on Twitter.

On February 18, US Vice -President Mike Pence said that Russia is responsible for the armed conflict in the Donbass . "We must hold Russia liable and demand respect for the Minsk agreements, starting with the de -escalation of the conflict in the east of Ukraine," Pence said.

Pence also assured the United States to fulfill his obligations to NATO and the EU. He stated that America would strengthen its armed forces to protect its allies.