Новости Посольства

Despite the numerous well-reasoned and legally clarified explanations of the Russian side regarding the status of Crimea, official Kiev continues attempting to question its territorial affiliation with  relentless persistence.

In response to yet another statement of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry we are forced to once again reiterate that after the well-known events in Kiev, which ended with the illegal seizure of power by nationalist elements who threatened the Russian-speaking population with physical violence, a referendum was held in Crimea at the initiative of its residents in March 2014. Based on the results of this referendum almost all of the voters spoke out in favor of the reunification with Russia.  This choice was made voluntarily, subject to all democratic principles and in accordance with international law. Thus, the peninsula made its way back to its “native harbor” and it is not subject to revision.

All allegations aimed at challenging the legitimacy of the will of the people are fake and unlawful and should be condemned.

The full range of rights and freedoms of Crimean residents is guaranteed by the Constitution of Russia, and in this sense, Crimeans are no different from other Russian citizens, including in respect to the equality of their rights.  The desire to separate Crimean residents into a special category has neither legal, nor any other ground.  The fact that they are not subject to any kind of discrimination and, especially, repression by law enforcement agencies, can easily be confirmed by thousands of Ukrainian citizens who visit Crimea annually.  Anyone who claims the opposite is either unfamiliar with the situation or intentionally disseminates speculation that is contrary to reality.

At the same time, we reaffirm our readiness for dialogue with international monitoring mechanisms on the issue of respect for human rights in Crimea in the framework of procedures common to the Russian Federation.  We are open for receiving missions of the relevant structures on the peninsula if they are sent within the organization’s mandate and follow the established rules for visiting Russian territory.

We call on the Ukrainian side to abandon the escalation of hysteria around a problem that had been created out of thin air, return to common sense and stop ruffling the international community by supplying information which is detached from reality and aimed at fostering confrontation.

 

Embassy of the Russian Federation