Ukraine protests Russia’s political repression in Crimea
The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs protested categorically against another wave of political repression and human rights violations by the Kremlin towards Ukrainian citizens in annexed Crimea.
“The Russian occupation authority continues to discriminate according to national and religious attributes in the occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, persecuting ethnic Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars,” the MFA’s statement reads.
Over the last month at least five politically motivated prison sentences have been given and seven people have been arrested or fined. Only last week, there were no fewer than three searches in the homes of Crimean Tatars.
“The shameless mass searches, a time-tried NKVD practice, as well as a series of arrests of those who spoke in support of 76-year old Sever Karametov who was arrested for picketing, are evidence of the continuation of the Crimean regime’s bold attack against everyone who does not agree with the occupation,” the MFA stated.
The document specifies that despite the numerous appeals by Ukraine and the international community demanding the immediate release of all illegally arrested and condemned Ukrainians, the Russian leadership continues the disgraceful practice of using Ukrainian citizens as the hostages of its aggressive policy against the Ukrainian government, making false accusations.
The MFA expressed concern regarding the deteriorated health of the Ukrainian citizen Ruslan Zeytullaev, who was illegally arrested on Russian territory. On July 27, Ruslan began another hunger strike to protest the fact that the Russian Supreme Court increased his sentence to 15 years of imprisonment. The ministry demands that Russia urgently give permission for Ruslan Zeytullaev to be examined by Ukrainian doctors.
Ukraine is demanding that Russia release all illegally detained Ukrainian citizens immediately and without any further conditions, and cease the practice of political persecution and repression of its countrymen.