US Ambassador to the OSCE James Gilmore called on the Russian Federation to end its forced conscription campaign, as these actions are contrary to international law and are part of Russia’s efforts to militarize the peninsula.
“It is necessary to raise the issue of the continued occupation of Crimea by Russia. Russia's invasion of Crimea is key in the Kremlin's intentions to damage the sovereignty of Ukraine. About 24 thousand young residents of Crimea were drafted into the Russian Armed Forces, which, as we have already noted, is contrary to international law and is part of Russia's efforts to militarize the peninsula. We demand from Russia to end its forced conscription campaign”,- he said.
Gilmore noted that the Russian occupation authorities continue to mock Crimean Tatars and ethnic Ukrainians, limiting their freedom of speech and the right to peaceful assembly. Also, he condemned the detention of representatives of Jehovah's Witnesses in Sevastopol.
“We affirm that people have the right to fundamental freedom of peaceful religious worship, and we call on Russia to end the senseless campaign against Jehovah's Witnesses, who pose no danger or harm to either the occupying authorities or anyone else, to put an end to the systematic repression in Crimea, and release all Ukrainian political prisoners”,- he added.
The US Ambassador stressed that the Crimean issue remains an open wound for the security principles enshrined in the Final Act of the Helsinki Accords.