Head of UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine tells about Yesypenko's tortures in Crimea

The Russian Federation, as an occupying power, must stop violating international humanitarian law, international law, and human rights in Crimea.

"We continued to record violations of international law, human rights, and international humanitarian law in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, occupied by the Russian Federation. We gave recommendations for eliminating these violations committed by the Russian Federation as an occupying power," Matilda Bogner, the Head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, said at the presentation of the 32nd report on human rights situation, Ukrinform reports.

In particular, the Mission pointed to restrictions on the freedom of peaceful assembly on the peninsula, persecution of Crimean Tatars, torture and ill-treatment of Crimean residents, as well as violations of the right to a fair trial.

"Russia's total requirement to obtain prior permission to hold any public assembly restricts the freedom of peaceful assembly on the peninsula," Bogner said.

In particular, she mentioned the detention of supporters of opposition politician Alexey Navalny, who held peaceful protests in Crimea, as well as the detention and imposition of administrative sanctions on 58 people who had a peaceful assembly in support of Crimean Tatar activists Nariman Dzhelyalov, Eldar Odamanov, Aziz Akhmetov, Asan Akhmetov, and Shevket Useinov.

The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission reminded of the torture and ill-treatment of Crimean journalist Vladyslav Yesypenko who had been convicted of illegal manufacture of an explosive device.

"Reprisals against those who express critical or independent views must end, and fundamental freedoms must be respected," Bogner concluded.

The new 32nd report on the human rights situation in Ukraine covers six months of monitoring from 1 February to 31 July 2021.

The Mission plans to publish updated information on the human rights situation in Ukraine in early November, and the next full report in March 2022.

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