Statement by the Spokesperson on the human rights situation on the Crimean peninsula

For the European Union, the administrative detention of human rights lawyer Emil Kurbedinov on 26 January in Simferopol, Crimean peninsula, continued a worrying trend of increasingly frequent attacks on the vital work conducted by human rights defenders to protect the rights of Crimean Tatars and of those who do not recognise the illegal annexation of the peninsula by the Russian Federation.

The deterioration of the human rights situation on the Crimean peninsula since its illegal annexation by the Russian Federation has been consistently raised by the European Union. In particular, the rights of the Crimean Tatars have been gravely violated.

The European Union remained committed to fully implement its policy of non-recognition of the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol. The European Union fully supported the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine. It also inform that the rights of Mr Kurbedinov should be respected and his release ensured.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Statement by the Spokesperson on the situation of Crimean Tatar leader and deputy Chair of the Mejlis Ilmi Umerov http://www.europeansources.info/record/statement-by-the-spokesperson-on-the-situation-of-crimean-tatar-leader-and-deputy-chair-of-the-mejlis-ilmi-umerov/

ESO: Background information: Crimea - a year in Russian hands http://www.europeansources.info/record/crimea-a-year-in-russian-hands/

ESO: Background information: Euromaidan - Protests in Ukraine 2013 - 2014 http://www.europeansources.info/record/euromaidan-protests-in-ukraine-2013-2015/

ESO: Background information: The EU’s latest sanctions against Russia: the legal basis and how they will work in practice http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-eus-latest-sanctions-against-russia-the-legal-basis-and-how-they-will-work-in-practice/

ESO: Background information: EU to impose economic sanctions on Russia / EU restrictive measures in view of the situation in Eastern Ukraine and the illegal annexation of Crimea http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-to-impose-economic-sanctions-on-russia-eu-restrictive-measures-in-view-of-the-situation-in-eastern-ukraine-and-the-illegal-annexation-of-crimea/

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