On Friday, 26 February, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Saeima issued a statement on the 7th anniversary of the annexation of Crimea, in which it calls on the global democratic community to firmly stand for adherence to international law and democratic values in the entire international arena, and to support the international Crimean Platform established by the Ukrainian government and the non‑governmental sector to fight for the de‑occupation of Crimea.
“During these seven years, Russian occupation authorities have illegally expropriated Ukrainian State property, closed Ukrainian‑language schools, carried out politically motivated repressions against Crimean Tatars, forced the Russian Federation citizenship upon Ukrainian citizens, and drafted citizens of Ukraine into the Russian army as they expanded the militarisation of the Crimean Peninsula. Russia's refusal to uphold the norms and principles of international law is unacceptable,” pointed out Rihards Kols, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Saeima.
The Statement strongly condemns the Russian Federation’s continued aggression in Ukraine and military occupation of Crimea, a Ukrainian territory, which constitutes a serious violation of international law, including the Charter of the United Nations and the Helsinki Final Act of the Organization for Security and Co‑operation in Europe.
In the Statement, MPs denounce Russia’s refusal to uphold the norms and principles of international law, disregarding the international community’s calls for restoring respect for human rights, instead expanding the militarisation of the Crimean Peninsula, increasing the presence of the Russian armed forces and armoured vehicles in Crimea, and drafting citizens of Ukraine into the Russian army.
MPs also express concern about the gross and systemic international human rights and humanitarian rights violations ongoing in Crimea since its illegal annexation in 2014, including illegal expropriation of Ukrainian State property, closure of schools wherein children are taught in Ukrainian, politically motivated repressions against Crimean Tatars, forcing the Russian Federation citizenship upon Ukrainian citizens, violation of the fundamental principles of freedom of religion and discrimination of members of the Crimean diocese of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Muslims and Jehovah's Witnesses, carried out by Russian occupation authorities.
The Statement honours the courage and heroic spirit of the Ukrainians living in the occupied territory and defending the territorial integrity of Ukraine.
As set out in the Statement, Members of the Foreign Affairs Committee also reaffirm the support of Latvia for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and consistent refusal to recognise the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by the Russian Federation.
Saeima Press Service