Strasbourg, 18.09.2014 - The Council of Europe’s Ministers’ Deputies reviewed the situation in Ukraine at their meeting on 17 September, on the basis of the report presented by the Secretary General on his visits to Kyiv and Moscow on 2-4 September.

In their decision, the Ministers’ Deputies welcomed the Protocol signed in Minsk on 5 September 2014 and called on all parties to strictly respect and fully implement all twelve principles of the Protocol without delay.

In this context, they urged the Russian Federation to withdraw all its troops from Ukraine and to refrain from any further interference in this member country, stressing that the crisis can only be solved on the basis of the principles of the peaceful settlement of disputes.

The Ministers’ Deputies also encouraged the Secretary General to continue to assist the Ukrainian authorities in the conduct of the necessary internal reforms, in particular regarding the Constitution, the judiciary, decentralisation and the protection of persons belonging to national minorities.

With regard to Crimea, the Ministers’ Deputies reiterated that its annexation by the Russian Federation is illegal. They had an exchange of views with the Commissioner for Human Rights on his recent visit to Crimea and underlined the necessity to secure the full and effective enjoyment of the rights enshrined in the European Convention of Human Rights by all individuals living there, including the native Crimean Tatars and other persons belonging to national minorities.

Contact: Can Fisek, Press officer/Spokesperson