The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine strongly condemns the ongoing deterioration of the human rights situation in the occupied Crimea, especially in the context of the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Russian Federation uses humanitarian exacerbations as a smoke screen to further attack the rights and freedoms of Crimeans. This was reported by the press service of the department.
“Despite its obligations as an occupying state to protect public health, defined by international humanitarian law, the Russian Federation uses the aggravation of the humanitarian situation as a smoke screen solely for further attacks on the rights and freedoms of Crimeans”,- the report said.
It is noted that the spread of the pandemic did not stop the Russian Federation from announcing the next forced draft in the occupying army. The occupation authorities continue to violate the rights of Crimeans: a new decree depriving Ukrainian citizens of the right to own land on the peninsula, the delivery of the so-called warnings about extremist activity.
“At a time when repression continues in Crimea, the Russian Federation, abusing procedural capabilities, is manipulatively promoting its fake emissaries to various international events. Their main task is to justify aggressive policies and instill international tolerance for the Russian occupation of the Crimean peninsula. These efforts are futile", – the statement added.