Geneva, 5 October 2021
Thank you, Madam President,
Latvia aligns with the statement delivered by the European Union.
We continue to be greatly concerned 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.
Latvia is alarmed about the restrictions of the freedom of peaceful assembly, reports of torture and ill-treatment of Ukrainian citizens, disregard of the right to a fair trial, and other international human rights law and humanitarian law violations in the illegally annexed Crimea.
Equally concerning are the restrictions of civic space and forced conscription campaigns in the non-government-controlled areas in Eastern Ukraine.
We reiterate our call for proper and unimpeded access of international and regional human rights monitoring mechanisms to the illegally annexed Crimea, as well as to places of detention in the non-government-controlled areas in Eastern Ukraine.
Latvia affirms its unwavering support to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders. In this regard, we condemn the holding of the so-called elections in the illegally annexed Crimea.
Madam Deputy High Commissioner, what can the international community do to support civil society and religious and ethnic minorities in the illegally annexed Crimea?
I thank you!