Thank you Madame President,
Latvia aligns with the EU and Nordic-Baltic statements.
Latvia remains extremely worried about the deteriorating human rights situation in the non-government controlled areas in Eastern Ukraine and in the illegally annexed Crimea and city of Sevastopol.
The Secretary General’s interim report continues to highlight international humanitarian law and human rights law violations in the illegally annexed Crimea. We continue to be alarmed about the reports of torture and ill-treatment committed by the occupation authorities and the persisting pattern of impunity, as well as reported deportations and forcible transfer of individuals outside of the illegally annexed Crimea.
Latvia also remains worried about the human rights situation of Crimea’s ethnic and religious minorities. We echo the Secretary General’s call on the occupation authorities to lift restrictions imposed on the Crimean Tatar community to conserve its representative institutions, and to ensure the availability of education in the Ukrainian language.
We reiterate our call for proper and unimpeded access of international and regional human rights monitoring mechanisms to the illegally annexed Crimea.
In conclusion, Latvia affirms its unwavering support to sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.
I thank you!