Further monitoring of human rights situation in east of Ukraine underlined by Lithuania at UN Security Council meeting
At a meeting of UN Security Council, initiated by Lithuania, human rights situation in the east of Ukraine and Crimea was discussed on August 8. Lithuania underlined the importance of further monitoring human rights situation in these regions of Ukraine.
“The presence of the United Nations human rights monitoring mission and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation of Europe remains essential. Such missions register countless and continuous human rights violations caused by Russia-supported armed separatists,” said Ambassador Raimonda Murmokaitė, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Lithuania to the UN, adding that separatists’ actions, aimed at destroying sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, continue.
The Permanent Representative of Lithuania called attention to the latest OHCHR (Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights) report which points out that separatists supported by Russia systematically attacked essential infrastructure objects, looted, illegally detained, tortured, persecuted civilians; ethnic Ukrainians, the Crimean Tartars, representatives of religious and ethnic minorities were persecuted and intimidated.
„None of these actions- all clear and criminal violations of human rights law- have ever been condemned by Russia, which has instead repeatedly sought Council condemnation of Ukraine for its legitimate efforts to restore law and order in the east of the country. Instead of closing its borders to the illegal movement of mercenaries and weapons, Russia continues to play war games at Ukraine's eastern borders. Once again large numbers of combat ready troops and armaments are amassed on Ukraine’s borders,“ stated Ambassador Raimonda Murmokaitė.
Ivan Šimonović, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, presented the human rights situation in the east of Ukraine underlying that the human rights situation there was rapidly deteriorating. The UN representative stressed the necessity to ensure those who committed war crimes and serious violations of international humanitarian law or human rights law should be prosecuted.
Lithuania has been elected a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2014-2015.
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