On Thursday, October 1, US Ambassador to the OSCE James Gilmore, during his speech at the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna, said that Russia continues to regularly insult Crimean Tatars and ethnic Ukrainians in the occupied Crimea. Gilmore stressed that the sanctions policy against Russia will not end until the de-occupation of Crimea.
“In Crimea, Russia and its occupation authorities regularly insult Crimean Tatars and ethnic Ukrainians, subjecting them to politically motivated arrests and detentions. The occupation authorities impose unreasonable restrictions on freedom of expression and association, as well as the right to peaceful assembly”,- he said.
Gilmore stressed that Crimea is a part of Ukraine and assured that the sanctions policy against Russia will not end until the de-occupation of Crimea.
“We repeat, Crimea is a part of Ukraine. Moreover, none of the accused or convicted on these false charges of terrorism is accused of planning or committing any acts of violence. Server Mustafayev and other Crimean Tatars, with whom he was arrested and subsequently convicted on September 16, should be immediately released along with all Ukrainian political prisoners held by Russia”,- he added.