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• Ireland is unwavering in its support of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and does not recognise the illegal annexation of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.

• International human rights monitors must be allowed full, free and unrestricted access to the Crimean peninsula

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Coveney T.D., has reiterated Ireland’s steadfast support for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine and expressed serious concerns at the deteriorating human rights situation in Crimea.

The Tánaiste stated:
“Today, on the fourth anniversary of the illegal annexation of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, I reiterate Ireland’s steadfast support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. We do not recognise the annexation and we continue to call on the Russian Federation to observe the fundamental principles of international law and restore Ukraine’s internationally recognised borders.

On the worsening human rights situation in Crimea, the Tánaiste said “The deterioration of the human rights situation since the annexation is deeply concerning.I call on the Russian Federation to guarantee that freedom of expression, religion, belief and the right to peaceful assembly can be exercised by citizens of Crimea without discrimination on any grounds. All allegations of human rights violations involving political prisoners, human rights defenders and civil society activists must be fully and properly investigated.
 

In this regard, it is imperative that international and regional human rights monitoring mechanisms are granted full, free and unrestricted access to the peninsula.”