There needs to be a permanent and durable ceasefire in Ukraine, together with the unconditional and complete withdrawal of foreign troops from the country, said Stefan Schennach (Austria, SOC) opening today’s current affairs debate on the crisis in Ukraine.
He called for the restoration of Ukraine’s sovereignty and borders, while urging ongoing dialogue between Ukraine and its neighbour Russia to resolve the conflict. He also called for the full investigation of any war-crimes perpetrated so far, and warned that Ukraine was “on the verge of a humanitarian catastrophe”.
The Council of Europe’s Human Rights Commissioner Niels Muiznieks, who recently visited Crimea, reported to the Assembly on the human rights situation there. Recent intrusive raids on the Crimean Tatars had shattered this community, he said, and should be stopped.
So-called “self-defence forces” in Crimea had also been involved in serious human rights violations including abductions, the Commissioner said, while there were also concerns about media freedom: a number of critical outlets had been shut down, and journalists had received warnings or had equipment confiscated. (More...)
Video of the debate
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See also:
Ukraine and the Council of Europe