The European Parliament adopted a resolution on human rights violations in Crimea

Parliamentarians demand the abolition of unjust sentences, investigation of abuses and tougher sanctions against those responsible for violating human rights on the peninsula.  

October 5 In 2017, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the violation of human rights in Crimea. The deputies demanded that the sentences handed down to the deputy chairmen of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people Ilmi Umerov and Akhtem Chiygoz, as well as the journalist Nikolay Semyonya, be canceled and that Umerov and Chiygoz be immediately released.

European Parliament stated that the situation with the observance of human rights in Crimea is significantly worsened: this was caused, in particular, by the application of the rules on extremism, terrorism and separatism. As a result, the right to freedom of speech and association is often violated, the inhabitants of the peninsula are systematically forced to obtain Russian citizenship, and the fundamental rights and freedoms of Crimeans are not guaranteed. Parliamentarians demand the abolition of discriminatory legislation and stress the need to investigate human rights violations on the peninsula. The deputies reminded the Russian authorities that Russia now - from the point of view of the European Parliament, as an occupier - de facto has control over the peninsula, and therefore bears full responsibility for maintaining the rule of law on the territory of the peninsula and protecting the Crimeans from the arbitrariness of local courts and authorities, while international the law obliges her to ensure respect for human rights in Crimea.

The European Parliament condemned the discriminatory policy of Russian authorities in relation to the inhabitants of the peninsula, primarily the Crimean Tatar minorities, violation of their property rights, intimidation affecting the political, social and economic life of the Crimean Tatar community and opponents of the annexation of Crimea to Russia. Separately, the parliamentarians noted the pressure on information resources that reflect the opinions of minorities, and called on the Russian authorities to stop placing judicial and administrative obstacles on them.

The deputies condemned the harsh sentences handed down as a result of "shameful charges" and "farcical trials" against 44 residents of the peninsula, and demanded their immediate release. We are talking about the Crimean Tatars, accused of belonging to Muslim religious organizations banned in Russia.

From point of view of the European Parliament, the rights of the Crimean Tatars have been grossly violated as a result of the ban on activities of the Mejlis; the deputies also condemned the persecution of Mustafa Dzhemilev and Refat Chubarov and a ban on their entry into Crimea. The parliamentarians demanded the annulment of the decision to recognize the Mejlis as an extremist organization and the implementation of the ruling of the International Court of Justice, according to which Russia "should refrain from continuing or imposing new restrictions on the ability of the Crimean Tatar community to maintain traditional representative institutions, including the Mejlis."

The European Parliament called on international organizations to seek the possibility of monitoring Crimeans in courts and in places of detention, and also expressed concern about the use of punitive psychiatry methods against prisoners. Parliament condemned going contrary to Art. 73 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, the practice of transferring prisoners from the territory of the peninsula to remote regions of Russia, which does not allow them to see family and friends, in particular, violates the right of children to communicate with their parents, and demanded that prisoners be able to communicate regularly with loved ones.

The parliamentarians also appealed to the European Court of Human Rights with a call to give possible priority to the consideration of complaints from Crimeans, since Russian courts do not and cannot ensure a fair consideration of their cases.

MPs called on the European international organizations specializing in the protection of human rights, including the OSCE, the UN, the Council of Europe, etc. to achieve unhindered access to the territory of the peninsula for international observers, including deputies of the European Parliament, and to support projects and contacts that contribute to the search for a peaceful solution to problems in the region.

In addition, the European Parliament supported the idea of ​​tougher sanctions against those involved in gross human rights violations on the peninsula, including freezing their accounts in European banks, a ban on entry to EU countries, a ban on imports from Crimea and restrictions on exports to the peninsula.

Sources

• The European Parliament has passed a resolution on the cases of Crimean Tatar leaders Akhtem Chiygoz, Ilmi Umerov and journalist Mykola Semena // European Parliament. 2017. 4 October.