UN releases first report of Secretary General on human rights violations in Crimea

The United Nations has released the first report by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on human rights violations in annexed Crimea. The report is published on the UN website. It will be presented at the 74th session of the UN scheduled for September, Radio Liberty reports.

The report reflects the key aspects of the violation of civil and political rights of the residents of the Russian-occupied peninsula. In particular, it is a violation of freedom of thought, conscience, belief and religion; freedom of peaceful assembly. As an example, the report refers to the case of "the administrative prosecution of 80 Muslim men who held single pickets against the initiation of criminal proceedings against other followers of Islam, allegedly supporters of unauthorized religious associations."

The report also reflects violations of economic, social and cultural rights. It is referring to forced conscription into the Russian army, which constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law on the part of Russia.

After the Russian annexation of Crimea in the spring of 2014, independent journalists, public activists, activists of the Crimean Tatar national movement, members of the Majlis of the Crimean Tatar people, as well as Crimean Muslims suspected of having links with Hizb ut-Tahrir, an organization banned in Russia and in the territory of annexed Crimea, are regularly subjected to searches on the peninsula.

Russia annexed the Ukrainian Peninsula of Crimea in March 2014. On February 20, 2014, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine officially announced the beginning of the temporary occupation of Crimea and Sevastopol by Russia.

International organizations have recognized the occupation and annexation of Crimea illegal and condemned Russia's actions. Western countries have imposed a number of economic sanctions on Moscow. Russia denies the occupation of the Peninsula and calls it "the restoration of historical justice."