Russia continues its illegal searches and detentions in Crimea, an occupied Ukrainian peninsula, ignoring and violating international law. This is a slap in the face to all those who have stated the need to protect human rights, says Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov.
He commented on the searches and detentions of five people in Crimea, including First Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people Nariman Dzhelal, the press service of the Reintegration Ministry reported.
Those involved will certainly be punished sooner or later
Reznikov assured that all those involved in these crimes would certainly be found and would be punished sooner or later. He pointed out the "excessive cynicism" of Russia's activities in Crimea.
"After the publication of the UN Secretary-General's report on the human rights situation in the temporarily occupied Crimea and Sevastopol, a number of people were again arrested in Crimea," Reznikov stressed, noting that detained Nariman Dzhelal was a participant in the Crimean Platform summit.
He recalled that the UN report was about the crimes of the Russian Federation and its systemic pressure on Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars.
Reznikov: This is a slap in the face
"Searches and detentions [by the occupying state] are a direct response to the United Nations and the entire international community that Russia will continue to ignore and violate international law. This is a slap in the face to all those who have stated the need to protect human rights and support Ukraine," Oleksiy Reznikov said.
He criticized how such a state, Russia, remains a member of the UN Security Council: "What arguments can those who invite Russia to the PACE (Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe) have?"
Minister calls international community to use its influence, strengthen sanctions
"We call on the international community to use its influence on Kremlin to immediately release all Ukrainian prisoners detained in both Crimea and Donbas."
"Russia's refusal to release the captured people is a reason to strengthen international sanctions," said Oleksiy Reznikov, Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine.
