On Monday, April 26, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN Serhii Kyslitsia during the side event Threats to the Sustainable Development of Indigenous Peoples in the Context of Interstate Conflicts on the Example of the Russian-Occupied Crimea stated that Ukraine will leave the issues of the indigenous peoples of Ukraine on the high agenda of the UN.
Speech by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN Serhii Kyslytsia:
Due to the ongoing foreign armed aggression and temporary occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions not all citizens of Ukraine, primarily those belonging to indigenous peoples, can fully enjoy preservation and promotion of their ethnic, cultural, linguistic and religious identity and rights guaranteed by the Government.
That is why it is clearly stated in all resolutions of the General Assembly on the human rights situation in Crimea, as well as in the relevant thematic reports of the UN Secretary-General and OHCHR that the situation of human rights has drastically deteriorated in Crimea since its temporary occupation by the Russian Federation.
We are deeply concerned over the fate of Crimean Tatars as indigenous people of Crimea – a fate which, unfortunately, is very telling of the overall dramatic deterioration of the state of human rights on the peninsula. Therefore, we duly keep the issue of preserving cultural identity of Crimean Tatars in the focus of the UN General Assembly, as reflected in its relevant resolutions, as well as of the Secretary-General who is entrusted with implementing these resolutions.
It is important that the reports of the Secretary-General prepared in accordance with these resolutions present a wide scope of necessary facts and testimonies on the restrictions faced by Ukrainian citizens, including Crimean Tatars, in exercising their economic, social and cultural rights, inter alia the right to work, as well as the ability to obtain education in Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar languages.
We will remain vigilant and keep the issue of indigenous peoples of Ukraine high on the UN agenda. This of course includes removing the illegal ban on Mejlis imposed by the Russian occupation authorities in Crimea.