EU calls on Russia to stop undermining security in Black Sea region

24.02.2021 10:50

Ukrinform

Russia must stop creating security challenges in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov regions, including militarization of Crimea, military aggression against Ukraine and international law violations on the occupied peninsula.

“The ongoing Russian militarization of the Crimean peninsula continues to negatively impact the security situation in the Black Sea region and beyond,” Ambassador Silvio Gonzato, Deputy Head of the European Union Delegation to the United Nations, said at the UN General Assembly meeting on February 23.

The EU’s representative called on Russia to refrain from impeding the lawful exercise of navigational rights and freedoms to and from the Sea of Azov.

“Russia's unjustified use of force on 25 November 2018 near the Kerch Strait, the construction of the Kerch Bridge without Ukraine’s consent, and the opening of its railway section in December 2019 are violations of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, which we have repeatedly condemned,” Gonzato reminded.

At the same time, he pointed out the deteriorating human rights situation on the occupied and militarized Crimean peninsula. “Residents of the peninsula face systematic restrictions of human rights and fundamental freedoms,” the Ambassador said.

The Deputy Head of the European Union Delegation to the United Nations stressed that, in accordance with UN General Assembly resolution 75/29 adopted last December, it was crucial that the regional and international human rights monitoring mechanisms, as well as the non-governmental human rights organisations, have unimpeded access to the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol. “Journalists, other media workers, human rights defenders and defence lawyers should be able to work independently and without undue interference and intimidation,” he noted.

Gonzato also called on the Russian Federation to stop changing the demographic structure in Crimea by the resettlement of its own civilian population to the peninsula. “Last but not least we also expect Russia to take measures to improve the environmental situation in Crimea, which has considerably worsened,” he added.