Lithuania draws attention to human rights violations in East Ukraine at UN Security Council

Permanent representative of Lithuania drew attention to the UN human rights reports, which show that separatists supported by Russia systematically attack essential infrastructure, kidnap, illegally detain, torture and persecute civilians; ethnic Ukrainians, Crimean Tatars, ethnic and religious minorities are being intimidated and persecuted.

“While such actions are an obvious violation of human rights, Russia, which supports the separatists, did not condemn any of them. Instead, it wants the UN Security Council to condemn rightful Ukrainian aspirations to restore the rule of law in eastern part of Ukraine which is controlled by the separatists. It will continue to play war games at the Ukrainian border, where it has combat-ready forces and weapons,” said the Ambassador Murmokaitė.

UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Simanovic stressed that the human rights situation in Eastern Ukraine is rapidly deteriorating. Simanovic noted the need to ensure that people who have committed war crimes and other serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law are brought to justice.