BRUSSELS - The pre-requisite for the removal of the EU sanctions from Russia is the restoration of Ukrainian control over Crimea, the European Parliament said in a resolution it adopted at its plenary session in Strasbourg on Feb. 4.
The European Parliament “reiterates its strong commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders and to its free and sovereign choice to pursue a European path,” reads the resolution on the human rights situation in Crimea.
The MEPs recalled that the EU condemns the illegal annexation by Russia of the Crimean peninsula and the commitment of the EU, its member states and the international community to implement fully the policy of non-recognition of the illegal annexation of Crimea.
The resolution also highlights that “the restoration of Ukrainian control over the peninsula is one of the prerequisites for re-establishing cooperative relations with the Russian Federation, including the suspension of related sanctions.”
The European Parliament also strongly condemns the unprecedented levels of human rights abuses perpetrated against Crimean residents, most notably Crimean Tatars.
In particular, it condemns the severe restrictions on the freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly on the territory of Crimea.
It also stresses that, “in line with international law, the Tatars, as an indigenous people of Crimea, have the right to maintain and strengthen their distinct political, legal, economic, social and cultural institutions; calls for respect for the Mejlis as the legitimate representation of the Crimean Tatar community, and for avoidance of any harassment and systematic persecution of its members; expresses concern at the infringement of their property rights and liberties, their intimidation and incarceration, and disrespect of their civic, political and cultural rights; notes with equal concern the restrictive re-registration requirements for media outlets, as well as for civil society organizations.”
According to the document, Russia “as an occupying power has the responsibility to ensure the safety of the whole population and respect for the human, cultural, and religious rights of the indigenous Tatars and all other minorities of Crimea, and to uphold the legal order in Crimea.”
The European Parliament urges “the Russian and the de facto local authorities to investigate effectively, impartially and transparently all cases of disappearances, torture and human rights abuses by the police and paramilitary forces active in the Crimean peninsula since February 2014.”
MEPs called on the Russian authorities and the de facto authorities in Crimea to grant unimpeded access to Crimea for international institutions and independent experts from the OSCE, the United Nations and the Council of Europe, as well as for any human rights NGOs or news media outlets that wish to visit, assess and report on the situation in Crimea.
They also called on the Council and the EEAS to put pressure on Russia in this regard.
The European Parliament also welcomed the decision of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe to send his Special Representative for Human Rights to Crimea to provide a fresh assessment of the situation on the ground; looks forward to his findings.
The European Parliament also condemns “the militarization of the Crimean peninsula with its significant negative impact on economic and social life, as well as Russia’s threats to deploy nuclear weapons in Crimea, which constitute a significant threat to regional, European and global security; reiterates its appeal for the withdrawal of all Russian forces from Crimea and the eastern Ukraine.”
MEPs reiterated their support for the EU’s decision to prohibit imports originating from Crimea unless they are accompanied by a certificate of origin from the Ukrainian authorities, as well as for restrictive measures relating to the export of certain goods and technologies, investment, trade and services in Crimea; calls on the Council to continue with these sanctions until the completion of Crimea’s full reintegration into the legal order of Ukraine.
The European Parliament welcomes the Ukrainian initiative to establish an international negotiation mechanism on the reestablishment of Ukrainian sovereignty over Crimea in the ‘Geneva plus’ format, which should include direct engagement by the EU.
It also calls on Russia “to start negotiations with Ukraine and other parties on the de-occupation of Crimea, to lift trade and energy embargos and to revoke the state of emergency in Crimea.”
